Page 28 - March 2021 TTI

Eventually, Ron’s investigation led him to DeMario
Perez, also known as “Mario.” Ron’s interview of Mario
was the turning point in the investigation. Using his
interview training, many years’ experience as a
detective, and after careful preparation, Ron

Photo from gas station showing suspect Lexus SUV. The
photo proved t o be a good starting point for Ron’s investi-
gation.

by Brandie.

Ron focused on the Lexus SUV. Through database
searches and interviewing witnesses, Ron was able to Photo taken from Ron’s hidden video while talking to
gain additional information about the car and its Mario at his parent’s home. Mario was a quiet shy young
man. Ron could tell from his body language Mario knew
operator. Databases are critically important to private
he was caught, but felt he was not a killer, but was caught
investigations. To locate the Lexus, and subsequently up in a bad situation.
the two suspects, Ron interviewed dozens of witnesses,
conducted numerous hours of surveillance, met with at interviewed Mario at the home of his parents and was
least four different police agencies, and visited a few able to obtain a confession.
“crack houses” offering rewards for information related
to who was in the Lexus that fatal evening. Ron also Mario walked Ron through the events of that fatal
recruited several informants and had them wear evening of March 16, 2017. Mario confirmed that Lane
prescription type glasses with hidden video and audio Craig was in the back seat of the SUV that night and it
surveillance capability as they spoke with potential was his passenger, Davonte Hubbard who shot Lane in
witnesses. the chest. Mario was deathly afraid of Davonte, known
as “Tre” on the streets. According to Mario, Tre killed a
guy in New Orleans and had now shot and killed Lane

Photo of Devonte
Hubbard (a.k.a. Tre), the
suspected shooter. Based
on multiple interviews,
Ron found Tre to be a
mean person, feared by
many on the street. Ron
was told by several
witnesses that Tre told
people he would kill them
if they talked to the police.
TLO Database Research - Armed with the photo from the Ron never got the
gas station, Ron used a database known as TLO to track the opportunity to interview
suspect SUV to an apartment rented by Devonte “Tre” Hub- Tre who was in hiding
bard’s mother. Tre soon became a suspect. The Lexus SUV throughout the
had been at Tre’s residence the same week Lane was killed. investigation.
TLP proved to be a critical resource in the resolution of this
case.

26 | MARCH 2021 THE TEXAS INVESTIGATOR