The mother of a murder suspect in Williamson County is advocating for a more thorough investigation into her son’s case, asserting that he acted in self-defense during a deadly incident that took place over a year ago.
Shaunathan Raby, who recently marked his 20th birthday behind bars, has been incarcerated for approximately 13 and a half months. He was arrested in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old Bodhi Lindman. Raby’s mother insists that the portrayal of her son as a murderer does not reflect the person she knows.
“I would describe my son as a gentle, God-fearing young man with a big heart,” she stated, recalling how Raby had returned home from college and secured a job at a local pizza shop in Cedar Park. Everything changed dramatically one fateful night.
“I was in shock because I know my son’s true character. When I first heard about the incident, I was devastated, shaking, and in disbelief,” she described her emotional turmoil upon learning of her son’s arrest.
Raby’s mother reached out to the media, believing that the official narrative surrounding the incident does not encompass the full scope of events that transpired. The altercation began at Robin Bledsoe Park in Leander on July 29, 2025, where Raby and an associate allegedly met Lindman and his friend to purchase marijuana. According to police reports, a dispute erupted over payment, leading all four individuals to exit their vehicles.
Investigators claim that Raby fired six shots, four of which struck Lindman, who subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Court documents allege that Raby “intentionally and knowingly caused Linman’s death while committing a robbery.”
However, Raby’s mother contends that critical details have been overlooked. She asserts that as her son attempted to leave the scene, Lindman pursued him, allegedly threatening his life and brandishing a weapon. “In that moment, my son fired a few shots,” she explained.
She further elaborated that Lindman entered Raby’s running vehicle and accelerated towards Raby and his friend. “Shaunathan only had milliseconds to react and fired a couple of shots at his own car windshield in an attempt to stop what he reasonably believed was an immediate threat to him and his friends’ lives,” she explained.
While court documents do not indicate that Lindman was armed, Raby’s mother is uncertain about the origins of the gun her son used. Nonetheless, she remains confident that forthcoming evidence will corroborate her son’s account of the events.
“We hope that people will consider the case in its entirety, rather than just the outcome, and recognize all the circumstances leading up to that moment,” she urged.
Currently, Raby is being held at the Williamson County Jail, facing a murder charge along with five counts of aggravated assault and one count of deadly conduct originating from Travis County. A bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday, and a trial date has been established for April 5, 2027.
