The young man was shot multiple times during a disturbance over ‘services rendered,’ with police later clarifying those services were related to re-keying a vehicle.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Three weeks after an 18-year-old was shot and killed near Secretariat Drive in Corpus Christi, the investigation remains ongoing.
Now, the young man’s mother says she is still searching for answers.
Amanda Encinia spoke with 3NEWS about the frustration and heartbreak she says she has faced since her son, Donavan Encinia, was killed.
For Amanda Encinia, the days since the shooting have been filled with grief and questions. She says despite conversations with police, she still has not been given details about what led to her son’s death or why no arrests have been made.
Encinia says she was working in Port Lavaca when she received a phone call from her brother telling her to rush to Corpus Christi.
“I just dropped to my knees and I said, God please, not my son”
She drove straight to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital, where she says she immediately knew something was wrong.
“When I saw my father outside the hospital, I could just tell by his face, my son didn’t make it.”
Encinia says she was not allowed to see her son that day.
“I didn’t get to see my son until my son’s body was cold at the funeral home, the way no mom should see their child.”
The shooting happened just a block away from Los Encinos Elementary School outside the home where Donavan had been living on Secretariat Drive.
Police say the 18-year-old was shot multiple times during what they described as a disturbance over “services rendered,” when a weapon was produced.
Police later clarified those services were related to re-keying a vehicle.
Donavan did not survive his injuries.
Several people were detained at the scene but were later released. No arrests have been made.
Donavan Encinia was one of nine children. His mother was up front about her son not having a perfect record, but she wants people to remember the person he was. He went by the nickname Dee.
“For me he’ll, always be Donavan.”
Encinia says her son loved football and spending time with his siblings.
“He was a good kid, he wasn’t perfect, but he was my kid.”
She also worries that her son’s past may be affecting how the case is being viewed.
“I feel that, we all know how this goes, they see a young kid, maybe has some type of background, brush it off.”
Encinia says the lack of information has made the situation even harder.
“No answers, I don’t know what happened that day, they have not told me anything.”
3NEWS reached out to the Corpus Christi Police Department about the case. Officials say the investigation is still active.
In a statement, police said:
“We understand that waiting for answers can be difficult, but to ensure a thorough investigation we must respect the process of the investigation and the time required to conduct that investigation.”
Police say detectives have spoken with Encinia both in person and by phone, as well as with Donovan’s grandparents and another relative.
Encinia says she believes the people responsible should be held accountable.
“As many times as they shot toward my son, there’s no way they can get away with this.”
Encinia says there is surveillance video from the day of the shooting, but she has not been able to bring herself to watch it.
“Because I know that if I do, I’ll never be able to get those images out of my mind.”
3NEWS has viewed one clip from a neighbor’s surveillance video that captures the sound of more than a dozen gunshots.
Police say they have not obtained any footage.
The case is expected to go before a grand jury.
3NEWS has also filed a public information request for the initial police report. CCPD has sent that request to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for a determination if that information should be released. That process could take up to 45 business days.