Man charged in death of 19-year-old after fireworks argument

Family members and friends embraced one another at a vigil held in remembrance of Devonte Ortiz,19. Dozens gathered Friday on the Travis High School football field where some say he was a football star.

People shared fond memories of Otriz.

His girlfriend Amber Garcia shared her grief. "He was the love of my life,” Garcia said."I just can't believe he is gone , I dropped him off and gave him a hug and I didn't realize that was going to be the last hug I got from him."

A man has been arrested and charged in the death of a 19-year-old after the two had a disagreement over the use of fireworks.

Court documents released today show that 41-year-old Jason Roche has been charged with first degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Devonte Ortiz.

Police say that in the early morning of July 4th officers responded to calls of a disturbance at the Pleasant Hills Apartments at 2501 Anken Drive. When officers arrived they found Ortiz who had been shot. Ortiz was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

The documents state that Roche was interviewed by police on the day of the shooting. Roche told police that he had asked Ortiz and his friends to stop shooting fireworks but that Ortiz and his friends continued to do so. Roche says he then went and spoke to the group a second time and that's when the shooting occurred.

Roche told police that he shot Ortiz in self defense and that Ortiz was reaching for a firearm. He told police that Ortiz had removed a firearm from a car just before the shooting and had placed it in on the ground.

The court documents state that police found a handgun in the parking lot which Roche says belonged to him. An AR-15 style rifle was seen lying on the ground as well but documents do not say who it belonged to.

Police say video provided by witnesses show Roche displaying a firearm at Ortiz multiple times and Roche following Ortiz around the car as they argue with each other.

Roche's father, Dennis, intervened and video shows Dennis and Ortiz in a verbal altercation and shoving each other. Ortiz, court documents say, pushes Dennis who ends up falling on the ground.

The documents say Ortiz was not holding a firearm at this point of the video and after Ortiz shoves Dennis, Jason Roche responds by shooting Ortiz.

The Travis County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination and determined the manner of death to be homicide as a result of a gunshot wound.