The chilling intersection of fear, aggression, and split-second decisions turned a routine night at an Austin, Texas, Shell gas station into a crime scene that would ultimately land an employee behind bars for murder.
Surveillance footage and police bodycam recordings have offered a rare, inside look at the January 21, 2023, shooting that left 42-year-old Maris Lavar Demps dead. What began as a verbal dispute escalated into a violent physical altercation and concluded with multiple gunshots fired into a vehicle.
The Night in Question: A Scene of Chaos
At approximately 11:15 p.m., Austin Police arrived at the East MLK Jr. Boulevard gas station to find Demps in his car, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds [01:03]. The atmosphere was frantic, with police and bystanders struggling to comprehend the rapid descent into violence.
The suspect, 25-year-old Shell gas station employee Yasine Naz, remained on the scene and claimed the shooting was a necessary act of self-defense [04:34].
Differing Narratives: Employee vs. Surveillance
During police interviews, Naz provided a detailed account of the events. He alleged that Demps had been aggressive, shouting at staff, and eventually charging at them multiple times [06:54]. Naz described a harrowing scenario where he and his co-workers were pushed, intimidated, and ultimately threatened by Demps, who Naz claimed possessed a knife [08:59].
However, the surveillance footage—which became the centerpiece of the prosecution’s case—told a different story. According to court documents:
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Initial Confrontation: A verbal argument between Demps, Naz, and another employee turned physical, with Naz and the other worker delivering multiple strikes to Demps [09:20].
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Escalation: After a brief separation, Naz was seen retrieving a stun gun and applying it to Demps’ neck and head, while the other employee kicked him [09:34].
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East Austin Gas Station Murder Arrest The Fatal Moments: After being separated a second time, Demps exited the store and returned to his vehicle. Despite the physical altercation having concluded, Naz retrieved a handgun from behind the counter, approached the car, and fired multiple rounds through the closed driver’s side window, striking Demps multiple times [10:10].
The Legal Outcome
While Naz insisted his actions were motivated by the fear of a man he perceived as a “maniac” with a weapon, the legal system scrutinized the timing and necessity of the lethal force.
In September 2025, after a jury trial in Travis County, Yasine Naz was found guilty of murder [19:27]. Interestingly, the jury also found evidence of “sudden passion” during the trial’s punishment phase. This legal finding resulted in a significantly lighter sentence than the maximum possible for murder.
Naz was sentenced to serve five years in prison [19:41]. Texas Department of Criminal Justice records indicate he is eligible for parole in 2028, with a potential release date as early as 2030 if the full sentence is served [19:48].
Key Moments from the Investigation
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[01:03] – Officers arrive at the Shell gas station and discover the victim.
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[04:34] – Yasine Naz is identified and interviewed by police.
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[09:13] – Investigators review store surveillance, contradicting Naz’s initial claims.
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[10:10] – The critical moment: Naz approaches the victim’s car and fires multiple rounds.
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[19:33] – Jury finds Naz guilty of murder.
The tragic high-profile criminal case involving Fraser Bohm highlights the severe legal consequences of reckless driving and excessive speed on dangerous roadways like the Pacific Coast Highway. Charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter following the October 2023 crash that claimed the lives of four Pepperdine University students, Bohm’s defense team has repeatedly attempted to dismiss the murder charges, citing disputed speed data and claims of a preceding road-rage incident. However, with judges denying these requests and allowing the prosecution’s case to move forward toward trial, the defendant faces the very real possibility of spending decades behind bars if convicted of malice-level murder for driving upwards of 100 mph in a 45 mph zone.
For more details on the legal arguments and court proceedings surrounding this high-stakes case, watch this ABC News report on the Pepperdine PCH crash.
