The quiet of a Conroe, Texas, night was shattered in the early hours of May 3, 2025, when a 14-year-old boy, Chase Daniel Dean, was found lifeless on Douget Road, his body marked by multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the 11900 block around 1:00 a.m., responding to urgent reports of a shooting. Despite their desperate attempts to save him, Chase was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving a community to grapple with the loss of a child whose life was cut tragically short. The incident, described by Sheriff Rand Henderson as a “heartbreaking and senseless act of violence,” has cast a somber shadow over Montgomery County, prompting an outpouring of grief and a demand for answers.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office moved swiftly, mobilizing its Major Crimes Unit, Crime Scene Investigators, and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office to unravel the circumstances of Chase’s death. Their investigation zeroed in on a 15-year-old male from Conroe, identified as a primary suspect. Within hours, detectives secured an arrest warrant for the juvenile and a search warrant for his residence. With the support of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Patrol Division, authorities executed the warrants, apprehending the young suspect and uncovering two additional individuals allegedly involved: 19-year-old James Fuller and 19-year-old Mason Goodwin, both Conroe residents. The 15-year-old was transported to the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center, where he faces murder charges. Fuller and Goodwin were arrested without resistance and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, each also charged with murder.
Sheriff Henderson, in a statement that underscored the gravity of the loss, noted that the shooting appeared to stem from a personal dispute. Yet, he emphasized, no motive could justify the devastating outcome. “Our hearts go out to Chase’s family,” he said, urging the community to keep them in their thoughts during this unimaginable time. The Sheriff praised the rapid response of his team, whose coordinated efforts ensured the suspects were in custody within hours of the tragedy. The investigation remains active, with authorities continuing to piece together the events that led to Chase’s death. They have called on the public for assistance, encouraging anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (936) 760-5800.
Further inquiries into the suspects reveal troubling histories with the law. Mason Goodwin, one of the adult suspects, was convicted in September 2023 of assault involving family violence, serving a 25-day jail sentence. More recently, in November 2024, he faced charges of criminal mischief for vandalizing property, resulting in a sentence handed down just two weeks before the shooting. He was ordered to complete nine months in a disciplinary program and pay $920 in restitution. James Fuller, the other adult suspect, was charged with assault in 2023, though his case was dismissed after he completed a brief anger management course. The juvenile suspect’s identity remains protected due to his age, but the involvement of a minor in such a violent act has intensified local concerns about youth and crime.
The death of Chase Daniel Dean has left an indelible mark on Conroe, a community unaccustomed to such stark violence. As the investigation unfolds, residents are left to mourn a young life lost and confront the complex factors that led to this tragedy. The Sheriff’s Office has promised to release additional details as they emerge, but for now, the focus remains on supporting Chase’s family and seeking justice for a boy whose future was stolen in an instant.