James Michael Propsom has been convicted in the January 2016 death of Zachary Scott Cooper and sentenced to life without parole in TDCJ.

On January 6, 2016 police were called out to the McDonalds at 1815 S. Grand St. at 8:33 p.m. where they found Cooper, 28, slumped over the steering wheel of his car. It was later determined that Cooper died of a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

The investigation that followed yielded surveillance footage from earlier in the the day that showed Cooper had driven his white Hyundai to the Walmart on 3700 E I-40 with another individual as a passenger.

After the passenger exited the vehicle and went inside the store, another individual came to Cooper's window and spoke with him for several moments before getting into the Hyundai. Cooper then drove over to the McDonalds, picking up another passenger along the way.

As the car sat in the McDonalds parking lot, two men are shown to exit the vehicle (presumably after Cooper had been shot) and get into a two-door sports coupe which then drove away.

James Michael Propsom was arrested in connection with the shooting the next day. Two other individuals were also arrested, Michael Alan Moore, 33, and Erika Hudson Bautista, 27.

Potter County Detention Center
Potter County Detention Center
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Propsom was charged and indicted for Capital Murder by Terroristic Threat. Moore and Bautista were indicted on murder charges. All three co-defendants have remained in Potter County Detention Center since their arrests in 2016.

According to court documents filed in Potter County for 251st District Court, jury trial proceedings began in early July. Testimony was heard from officers involved as well as co-defendants Bautista and Moore. On July 15, a jury found Propsom guilty of Capital Murder. A sentence of life without parole was imposed by Judge Ana Estavez on July 29.

Court records also show that a motion to request instruction as to defense of a 3rd person be given to the jury when considering punishment--the motion was denied. A notice of appeal was sent to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Records also show that, on August 23, an amended motion for a new trial was filed on the grounds that a "flash drive containing videos of co-defendant interviews discovered on the 5th day of trial."

There are no readily apparent court dates set for co-defendants Moore and Bautista, who are represented separately.

Executed Death Row Inmates from the Texas Panhandle

The following individuals were convicted of Capital Murder for crimes committed in the Texas Panhandle (Amarillo and its surrounding areas) and sentenced to death by lethal injection. Read a brief summary on the area's executed Death Row inmates.

All information and photos have been taken from TDCJ and court records.

Amarillo's Most Wanted: Help Bring These Fugitives to Justice

These are the fugitives who make up Amarillo's Most Wanted list. The individuals on this list have been accused of serious crimes and are considered a danger to society.

If you have any information about these FUGITIVES, you are urged to call Amarillo Crime Stoppers at (806) 374-4400 or submit a Web Tip by visiting THIS LINK

NEVER TRY TO DETAIN THE FUGITIVE YOURSELF!

You do not have to give your name. AMARILLO CRIME STOPPERS will pay a reward of up to $300 and you WILL remain anonymous. 

Updated as of 6/18/2022

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