Two recent high-profile cases in the United States have cast a spotlight on the complex—and sometimes confounding—nature of homicide investigations, self-defense laws, and the pursuit of justice. While one case in San Antonio, Texas, remains shrouded in mystery as authorities search for a fugitive murder suspect, another in Vero Beach, Florida, has ended—at least for now—with the dismissal of charges following a dramatic courtroom battle over self-defense. Both stories, reported by KSAT and TCPalm, raise pressing questions about the boundaries of legal responsibility, the power of state laws, and the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and prosecutors.
In San Antonio, the search is on for Samuel Adrian Barron, 28, who is wanted for capital murder in connection with a deadly shooting outside the LUNA Live Music Bar on June 8, 2025. According to the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), Barron is accused of fatally shooting Carlos Claros, 31, and Guillermo Serrano Jr., 45, in the bar’s parking lot at 6740 San Pedro Avenue. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to KSAT that both men died from multiple gunshot wounds—one was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries at a local hospital.
The events leading up to the violence remain somewhat murky. Police initially described a chaotic scene: a fight broke out in the parking lot, reportedly involving a group of women, Claros, and Serrano. Early reports suggested that Claros and Serrano might have shot each other. However, a preliminary police report later clarified that the shooter fled before officers arrived, upending initial assumptions and adding a layer of confusion to the investigation. In a twist that has complicated efforts to make an arrest, SAPD believes Barron fled to Mexico just hours after the shooting. Authorities have issued a public appeal for information, urging anyone who knows Barron’s whereabouts to contact the SAPD Homicide Unit at 210-207-7635.
This case is emblematic of the difficulties law enforcement faces when suspects cross international borders. While the SAPD continues to pursue leads, the families of the victims are left in limbo, awaiting justice and answers. As the investigation continues, the community is left to grapple with both the tragedy of the loss and the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of the crime.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in Florida, another shooting case has reached a legal turning point—one that has sparked debate among legal experts and the public alike. On August 13, 2025, Indian River County Circuit Judge Robert Meadows dismissed murder charges against Donna Lavonne Smith, 50, in the 2024 shooting death of Jeffrey Simmons, 57. The decision, as reported by TCPalm, was based on Florida’s stand your ground law and Smith’s claim of self-defense.
The fatal incident unfolded on February 19, 2024, between 5:30 p.m. and 6:43 p.m., in the Vista Royale condo community in Vero Beach. Simmons, a retired U.S. Army sergeant major and superintendent of the American Bar and Grill restaurant, was shot once in the head inside Smith’s real estate office. Surveillance footage and witness testimony, summarized in Judge Meadows’ order, painted a tense and escalating confrontation. After an argument in Simmons’ apartment turned physical, both parties retreated to different parts of the building. Smith, aware that Simmons had keys to the entire property, placed a door stop in front of her office door and turned off the lights.
According to the court’s findings, as Simmons approached, Smith shouted, “Jeff, stop I have a gun! I meant it!” Simmons reportedly replied, “go ahead and shoot me [expletive]!” Smith fired once but missed. Simmons then said, “you’re ... dead [expletive]!” and advanced toward her, prompting Smith to fire a second shot, this time striking him fatally in the head. Smith immediately called 911 at 6:43 p.m., telling the dispatcher, “I just shot my boyfriend!” and confirming Simmons’ death. She also told the dispatcher, “He’s shot once in the head!” and that the weapon used was a 9mm Luger. Crying, Smith added, “He hit me and choked me!”
Investigators noted bruising on Smith’s body, including under her arms and on her legs, and she claimed she had been struck on the head. Simmons’ toxicology report revealed the presence of alcohol, cannabinoids, and amphetamines. Body camera footage presented at the immunity hearing showed Simmons lying in the doorway and the handgun on a desk. The judge noted that Simmons, a “seventh-degree black belt,” also had multiple firearms in his apartment.
After a two-day hearing, Judge Meadows concluded, “The court finds the State of Florida has not met its burden by clear and convincing evidence to overcome the claim of self-defense based on the totality of the evidence.” Under Florida’s stand your ground law, a defendant can be granted immunity from prosecution if they reasonably believe deadly force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm. The judge found that prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence to refute Smith’s self-defense claim, and dismissed both second-degree murder charges against her.
Smith was released from the Indian River County Jail the same day, ending what her lawyer, Andrew Metcalf, described as a “long 19 months.” Metcalf told TCPalm, “It’s still a human tragedy any way you slice it.” He added, “Sometimes we don’t agree with the law, sometimes we don’t agree with the facts… this was really the only logical ruling.”
But the story may not be over. State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl told TCPalm that prosecutors are consulting with the Florida Attorney General’s Office about appealing the judge’s decision. “We have significant issues with some of the findings within the judge’s order. Obviously we have significant issues with his ultimate conclusion,” Bakkedahl said. He argued that the charges “should be decided by a jury and not disposed of in a hearing of this nature under these facts and circumstances.” Bakkedahl further stated, “We think that the sworn testimony and the credible evidence offered in the hearing does not support the finding in the order rendered by the judge in this case.”
Taken together, these two cases—one still open and the other apparently closed, at least for now—offer a window into the unpredictable and often controversial world of American homicide investigations. Whether it’s the challenge of tracking a suspect across borders or the intricacies of self-defense laws, the pursuit of justice rarely follows a straight path. For the families caught in the middle, and for the communities watching closely, the search for answers and accountability continues.