Jury begins deliberations after four‑day trial in Eastex Freeway shooting; defendant says he fired to 'back them off'

A jury in the 252nd District Court began deliberations Wednesday after hearing evidence that a June 12, 2025 shooting on Eastex Freeway left Hunter Freeman with serious facial and hearing injuries.

Prosecutors say Asa Joseph Jones fired a handgun from a white Jeep Compass at Freeman’s blue Chevrolet Suburban during a protracted traffic confrontation. The state presented surveillance video snippets, business records showing an appointment for an Asa Jones earlier that day, Verizon phone records and cell‑tower mapping to place a phone associated with Jones in downtown Beaumont at about 03:16 p.m. and near the Eastex/Grama area about 04:04 p.m., testimony showed.

“Do it. Why don’t you shoot?” Freeman testified he said to the other driver during the confrontation, acknowledging he taunted the driver as the cars passed on the freeway. Under cross‑examination Freeman described multiple shots striking his vehicle and said he suffered severe injuries, including the loss of multiple teeth and near‑complete hearing loss in his left ear.

Jones testified in his own defense and acknowledged he fired several rounds. He told jurors he was trying to force the other car to back off and that he feared for his life. Defense counsel urged jurors to consider the speed and dangerous driving described in multiple witness statements and a bystander's video—arguing Jones reasonably believed deadly force was necessary. “He was in fear for his life,” defense counsel told the court during testimony of the defendant’s account.

The state countered that fear of a traffic dispute does not justify shooting a person, and emphasized the permanent harm Freeman suffered. In closing the prosecutor reminded jurors that Freeman “did not deserve to be shot in the face” and urged them to hold the defendant accountable if the state had proved every element beyond a reasonable doubt.

Evidence admitted at trial included three surveillance video snippets (State's Exhibit 67), a Verizon data export on a USB drive (State's Exhibit 68), and two Nighthawk‑generated maps created by law‑enforcement analysts (State's Exhibits 69 and 70). A Verizon representative testified the company provided text logs, call logs and tower‑connection data in a spreadsheet produced to police under a search warrant. A detective who uploaded the data into mapping software explained the maps show tower sectors and arcs — useful to place a phone in an area but not to pinpoint an exact position on a street.

A photo lineup administrator testified the victim initially narrowed suspects to two photos and ultimately selected someone other than the defendant in the lineup; that identification process and its limits were explored at trial.

The judge instructed jurors on aggravated‑assault elements and the law of self‑defense, including the statutory presumption and exceptions relating to provocation and the defendant’s engagement in criminal activity. The court’s charge reminded jurors that if they find the state has proved each element beyond a reasonable doubt and also proved that self‑defense does not apply, they must convict.

After the judge read the instructions and hearing final arguments, the jury was sent to the deliberation room. The court set no schedule for a verdict in open court; court staff said the jury would notify the judge when it reached a decision.