Texas Gas Station Argument Over Right-of-Way Turns Deadly as Man Hit With Shovel, Shot in Chest, Police Say

DENTON, TX – A fight over the right-of-way in a QuikTrip parking lot turned fatal early Sunday when a man was attacked with a shovel and shot in the chest, police said. Two suspects are now facing murder charges.

The Deadly QuikTrip Confrontation

The incident began just before 1 a.m. on Sept. 28 at the 24-hour QuikTrip located on West Eagle Drive, according to the Denton Police Department.

When officers arrived, they found Fernando “Toby” Carranza, 30, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers attempted life-saving measures before rushing him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Carranza’s family later remembered him on a GoFundMe page as someone who lived a life “full of promise, love, and kindness.”

Fight Over Parking Lot Right-of-Way

Investigators said Carranza and his friend were strangers to the suspects, Alfred Jackson Jr., 26, and Olivia Guster, 24.

• The dispute allegedly began as a verbal argument over a right-of-way issue in the parking lot.
• It then turned violent when Jackson struck Carranza’s friend with a shovel.
• Guster allegedly assaulted both Carranza and his friend during the fight.
• Surveillance footage showed Jackson then knocked Carranza to the ground with the shovel before pulling a gun and shooting him in the chest, police said.

After the shooting, Jackson allegedly pointed the firearm at Carranza’s friend before fleeing with Guster in a vehicle.

Arrests After Attempted Escape

Witnesses told police two people connected to the shooting fled the scene. Officers later stopped their vehicle about 2.5 miles away on University Drive.

• Jackson allegedly ran from officers during the traffic stop before being caught.
• Guster remained at the vehicle and was also arrested.

Both were charged with murder, and Jackson faces additional counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest or detention.

Family and Community Reactions

Carranza’s family and friends are devastated by his death. His aunt told WFAA: “He had a family. He had a big heart. He was giving. We are going to miss him a lot.”

Guster, meanwhile, defended herself in a jailhouse phone call, claiming she only tried to break up the fight and that she was punched in the nose during the altercation: “The boy had punched me in the nose, busted my lip.”

Her mother insisted Guster was innocent, saying: “My child went to Texas on a vacation, and she’s incarcerated. She didn’t do anything but defend herself.”

Charges and Bonds

• Jackson is currently held at the Denton County Jail on a $2.11 million bond.
• Guster is detained in the same jail on a $1 million bond.

The investigation is ongoing as prosecutors prepare for trial.

Do you think parking lot disputes escalating to murder should carry harsher mandatory penalties, or do existing Texas laws already provide enough deterrence? Share your thoughts now with FatCityFeed.com.