Police say a drug sale arranged between teens turned violent late Sunday, leaving one 17-year-old dead and another wounded.
BURLESON, TX — Four teenagers have been arrested and charged in the killing of 17-year-old Keighan Robert Crist during an alleged narcotics transaction at Bailey Lake, a city park in Burleson, late Sunday, Dec. 7, police said. A second 17-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
Investigators said officers responded at 11:33 p.m. to reports of shots fired in the parking lot of the lakeside park and found Crist in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police initially arrested one 17-year-old suspect on Monday and, by Friday morning, announced three additional arrests tied to the same shooting. All four teenagers are being held in the Johnson County Jail as detectives continue to review statements, physical evidence and electronic records, according to authorities. The case now moves from the urgent search phase into charging decisions and court scheduling, with bonds set in some instances as high as $1.25 million.
Police identified the first suspect arrested as 17-year-old Wyatt Lynn Jacobs. Officers located him in a vehicle parked in a residential driveway in Burleson shortly after the shooting, authorities said. During an interview with detectives, Jacobs provided a statement admitting his involvement. He was booked on suspicion of capital murder and aggravated robbery. On Friday, police announced three more arrests connected to the case: Joel Fabian Garcia of Fort Worth and Julio Adan Duarte of Burleson, each charged with murder and aggravated robbery; and Gustavo Gil Jr. of Alvarado, charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. “There are consequences when you are going to be involved in purchasing or selling drugs,” Police Chief Billy Cordell said in an interview. “Your risk goes significantly up that you are going to be the subject of a press conference in the future.”
Officers said the shooting happened during a planned drug sale between two groups of teenagers who knew of prior robbery complaints involving the other side. Crist was found unresponsive behind the wheel with multiple wounds consistent with close-range gunfire, according to police. Another 17-year-old male at the scene had been shot in the leg and was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released the condition of the wounded teen or said whether he remains hospitalized. Police said all of the teens involved—victim, wounded witness and suspects—are between 17 and 18 years old. The names of the additional teens present during the transaction have not been released, and investigators have not publicly detailed how many firearms were used or who fired first.
Detectives said they are piecing together the events through interviews, security video pulled from the park and nearby homes, and phone records connected to the meeting. The parking lot at Bailey Lake, a city-maintained recreation area along the south side of Burleson, was taped off for several hours overnight as crime scene technicians collected shell casings and mapped bullet trajectories. Police have not said what type or quantity of narcotics were negotiated. Authorities said they are pursuing leads on how the teens arranged the sale and whether social media messages or prior confrontations contributed to the encounter. Jacobs’ combined bond was set at $1.2 million after his booking, according to jail records. Garcia and Duarte had bonds listed at $1.25 million each as of Friday morning. A bond for Gil had not been posted by early afternoon.
Bailey Lake has been the site of routine evening traffic by joggers, anglers and families, but overnight activity is limited by park hours. Sunday’s shooting fell near midnight, well after sunset and close to closing time. Residents who live in neighborhoods framing the park reported hearing several sharp cracks in succession, followed by the sound of vehicle engines. Patrol units converged within minutes, and detectives worked past dawn under portable light towers to document the scene. The park reopened the next day with visible police presence. City officials have not announced any immediate changes to park policies, and no curfew adjustments were listed in public notices by week’s end.
Chief Cordell, who said he feels for “all the families involved,” emphasized that the suspects and victims are legally considered adults under Texas law. “You’ve got 17- and 18-year-old kids, but they are adults in the eyes of the criminal justice system,” Cordell said. “They entered into an arrangement of criminal activity by their own accord.” Police said the two teens who planned to sell narcotics “knew there was a history of robbery from this other group” and met anyway. Investigators have not publicly identified the person who set up the meeting or the original location where messages were exchanged. No additional suspects have been announced beyond the four now jailed.
Under Texas statute, capital murder is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty if prosecutors seek it; murder carries a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years. Aggravated robbery can carry a sentence of 5 to 99 years depending on circumstances. Prosecutors in Johnson County will review police files and witness statements before deciding whether to present the case to a grand jury. Capital cases typically proceed through an examining trial, indictment and arraignment before pretrial motions. Court dates for the teens were not immediately listed in county dockets on Friday, and attorneys for the defendants had not been publicly identified. Police said additional charges could be added if new evidence shows broader planning or guns supplied by adults.
Family members of Crist have not released a public statement through police, and no obituary had been posted as of Friday morning. A small memorial of flowers and candles grew along the edge of the parking lot midweek. Neighbors described Bailey Lake as generally quiet. “We walk here most evenings,” said Angela Torres, who lives off Lakewood Drive. “Hearing gunshots at a place where kids fish is just heartbreaking.” A man who said he was visiting relatives near the park described a line of squad cars and ambulances just before midnight. “It felt like everything happened fast,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “Then the lights stayed on for hours.”
Police said more information will be released as detectives confirm the sequence of events and complete additional interviews. As of Friday, all four teens remained in the Johnson County Jail. The medical examiner had not released a full autopsy report. Authorities said they expect to provide another update when charging documents are finalized and initial court appearances are scheduled, possibly early next week. Meanwhile, the park will continue routine operations with periodic patrols as the investigation remains active.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.