James Dale Veracruz has officially been charged with Murder, a First Degree Felony, in the shooting death of Darrell G. Blankenship. Franklin County Justice of the Peace Jim Alford magistrate Varacruz, setting his bond at $1.5 million Friday, July 24, 2015.
James Dale Veracruz
Franklin County Sheriff, Ricky Jones said his department along with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers Service investigated the murder of the 50 year old Blankenship who was pronounced dead at the scene of shooting at the Scroggins Store in Franklin County. Blankenship lived in a residence on the south side of the Scroggins Store. Veracruz was placed in custody at the scene. Veracruz, 36 years old of Linden, Texas located in Cass County, Texas, was at that time held on warrants out of Cass County for burglary.
At 7:59AM Franklin County Sheriff’s Office 911 Operators received a 911 call of a possible shooting at the “Scroggins Store” located at 14818 Farm to Market Road 115 and the intersection of Franklin County Road 4425. Upon Deputies arrival at location they first encountered the suspect and placed him in custody. Victim was pronounced deceased by Franklin County Justice of the Peace Jim Alford and the body will be taken to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for an autopsy.
