Man pleads guilty to Downtown Austin gas station shooting and attempted robbery

AUSTIN, Texas — A man has pleaded guilty to participating in a Downtown Austin gas station robbery, in which an employee was shot last year.

The incident happened on October 7th of 2020 at a Shell gas station on I-35.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas, court documents say 36-year-old Deon Ross and co-defendant 19-year-old Lavante Carter tried to rob the gas station and were both carrying firearms. They displayed their firearms to two employees at the story who were there working that night. One of the employees was shot by Ross after demanding money.

WDTX says Ross pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by threats or violence and one count of discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He has been scheduled to be sentenced on December 21st and faces up to 20 years in prison on the robbery charge and 10 years to life for the firearm charge.

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Carter pled guilty on October 19th to one count of interference with commerce by threats or violence and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He has been scheduled to be sentenced on December 21st and faces up to 20 years in prison on the robbery charge and 7 years to life for the firearm charge, WDTX says.

After considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, a federal district court judge will be able to determine any sentence.

The announcement was made by Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

The case is being investigated by the Austin Police Department and the FBI.