In the early morning hours of July 5, 2026, the life of 27-year-old Joe Ybarra Jr. was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock Police responded to a call of shots fired in the 700 block of North Ithaca Avenue at approximately 12:36 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered Ybarra with multiple gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to University Medical Center, but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting was then taken over by the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit.
In the days following the shooting, the investigation led authorities to a suspect: 18-year-old Keymarion Burton. A murder warrant was issued for his arrest, and on July 8th, he was taken into custody without incident by investigators with the Lubbock Texas Anti-Gang Center at a business in the 7700 block of 66th Street. Burton was subsequently booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center, where he was held on a $250,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
During the course of their investigation, police learned of conflicting accounts from Burton regarding the events of that night. He initially told investigators that he was meeting with Ybarra to purchase THC vapes. Burton claimed that as he approached Ybarra's vehicle, Ybarra brandished a firearm, and as Burton was getting his money, Ybarra opened fire. However, Burton later altered his story, admitting that he might have been the one to fire the first shot. He also stated that the weapon involved was stolen. The case against Keymarion Burton is currently pending in the legal system, and as of the latest available information, the investigation continues.
