Community responds to Burnet shooting
Alexandria Randolph/Staff
Burnet County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 5800 block of CR 340 when two young men were fatally shot Tuesday morning.
By Alexandria Randolph
The community of Burnet and the families of two young men are in mourning this week after a fatal shooting cost them their lives.
Elijah Adam Benson, a 17-year-old Burnet High School student, and Travis Leslie Fox, a 26-year-old Burnet High School graduate, were shot multiple times at a residence in the 5800 block of CR 340 – the home of a mutual friend – on Tuesday morning.
“There is sense of loss between all families,” said Kyle Byrd, Pastor at The Church at the Epicenter in Burnet, where Eli Benson and his family attended.
Byrd and Fox’s family members said the two men were at the house celebrating Benson’s birthday, which was last week. The two, along with Garret James Ballard, 21, who is accused in their deaths, were in a band together.
A celebration of Benson’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday morning in the Burnet High School Auditorium. Plans for the memorial of Fox have yet to be finalized.
Garrett James Ballard, 21, the son of Burnet County Constable Jimmy Ballard (Precinct 3,) was booked into the Burnet County Jail Tuesday morning on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons in connection with the deaths.
Both victims were shot multiple times and a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle believed to be used in the shooting was recovered on site, said Burnet County Sheriff W.T. Smith. The men were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace (Precinct 1) Calvin Boyd.
While authorities have not released who made the initial 911 call, mixed reports suggest it may have been Garrett Ballard.
Ballard allegedly confessed to killing his two friends while under the influence of a hallucinogen.
For the full story, see Friday's issue of The Highlander.
