CHEEK, Texas — A man accused of fatally shooting a Houston father during an Easter weekend Zydeco dance in West Jefferson County has been indicted.
Javoris Potier, 30, of Houston, died at a Beaumont hospital on Sunday April 9, 2023, after being shot during the a zydeco dance following a trail ride at the Laday Arena.
When deputies were sent to the arena at about 1 a.m. for a report of shots fired, they found Potier and another man suffering from gunshot wounds. Potier and a 37-year-old Beaumont man, who was wounded, were taken by ambulance to a Beaumont hospital.
Potier was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Hospital at 2:17 a.m., according to a probable cause affidavit. His cause of death is listed as a "contact-range gunshot wound to the abdomen."
Jefferson County Precinct One Justice of the Peace Ben Collins, Sr. signed a murder warrant for John Joseph "JJ" Gutierrez, 25, of Hitchcock, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 in connection to the death of Potier.
Gutierrez was arrested at his Hitchcock home Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies.
Potier was shot while trying to stop a fight between a group of women that are from the Galveston County area. One of those women was in a "romantic relationship" with Gutierrez, according to the affidavit.
Investigators say Potier was trying to "court" the woman that Gutierrez was romantically involved with.
A witness gave investigators a description of the gun Gutierrez was allegedly seen running away with after the shooting.
Investigators say Gutierrez deleted images on his phone that matched the description of the gun. The digital images were able to be recovered through the search warrant process.
A serial number on the gun seen in the photos was linked to a purchase made by Gutierrez in July 2021, according to the affidavit.
Investigators say one of the "associates" who rode home with Gutierrez after the event revealed under sworn testimony that the suspect threw the gun out the window of the moving vehicle.
On Nov. 29, 2023, Gutierrez was indicted for murder by a Jefferson County grand jury.
Gutierrez is in the Jefferson County Jail being held on a $1 million bond.
Potier was at the arena to celebrate with his friends at the Zydeco dance. He leaves behind a son and a newborn.
Those who knew and loved Potier said he loved Zydeco music and dancing. They describe him as a man with a bright spirit and with a real zest for life who impacted many lives.
The mother of his newborn son, Gabrielle Laurent, previously told 12News her heart is a little less heavy knowing after seven months, "justice is finally being served."
"My heart breaks all over again every time I look at our son, because he will never have the chance to hear his daddy’s voice or know how much he loved him," she said.
Laurent says that although nothing will ever be able to "mend the brokenness of losing him," there’s a slight sigh of relief knowing that a suspect is off the streets.
"I don't think there will ever be complete closure, but instead of struggling to breathe you can kind of catch your breath a little bit knowing that the person has been walking around for free for the last seven months and he's not getting away with it," said Laurent.
Laurent is thankfully to law enforcement for giving the family a sense of closure.
"JP’s family and I are eternally grateful for Jefferson County and all the hands that played a part in tirelessly seeking justice for him," Laurent said.
This investigation leading to the arrest of Gutierrez was a collaborative effort between the Texas City Police Department, La Marque Police Department, Hitchcock Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Pearland Police Department, League City Police Department, Webster Police Department, Deer Park Police Department and Dickinson Police department.
Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens says her team is feeling "mixed emotions" following this arrest.
"I'm happy that we were able to get someone who is a threat to our community and our society off the streets. I'm not happy that his children or his family have to endure this and so the message that I would give to anyone, especially to his, is that his life mattered," Stephens said.
This investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone who has any information about this crime is encouraged to come forward. Criminal charges are pending for those who "purposefully obstructed and delayed this investigation," according to the release.
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