Llano County murder suspect claims self defense

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

The suspect of a Llano County murder has claimed he shot a man in self defense, authorities said Tuesday.

Justin Lamb, 27, of Yuma, Ariz. was arrested on charge of murder after authorities were led to a Llano County ranch where a Mason man was slain.

Joshua Lee Jordan, 31, was found shot multiple times in the head and torso on Saturday morning, Nov. 19, while his three-year-old son slept in a nearby house.

“At about 3 a.m. Saturday morning, we had a call from the Stripes at Texas Highway 29 and Texas Highway 16,” said Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn.

The caller said there was a man at the location who told employees he had shot his friend on a nearby ranch.

“We went out to the ranch about nine miles west of Llano off County Road 403,” Blackburn said. “There we found a subject shot multiple times. He was deceased.”

Jordan's three-year-old son was asleep in the house nearby when the shooting occurred.

Blackburn said there had been an altercation between Lamb and Jordan, but authorities are still determining the nature of the dispute.

“He's claimed self defense,” Blackburn said of Lamb. “He said a third person came at his friend with a knife.”

The third man, a California resident, was questioned by Llano County investigators since the incident.

Lamb was booked in the Llano County Jail on charge of murder and remains there on bond of $500,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

He may face additional charges for child endangerment, Blackburn said. 

He has previous criminal charges of an unknown nature in Arizona.  

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