Jake Butler Bean, a 32-year-old man from El Paso, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his mother, 59-year-old Tracy Bean. The fatal shooting occurred on July 6, 2023, during a struggle over a firearm, according to court records.
Bean appeared in the 120th District Court on December 5, where Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza handed down the sentence. As part of a plea agreement with state prosecutors, Bean avoided a trial that had been scheduled for December 9. He received time-served credit for the more than 1 year and 5 months he spent in jail awaiting resolution of the case.
The shooting took place at the Bean family’s farm, Johnny Bean Horse Farm, located in El Paso’s Upper Valley. According to the police affidavit, officers arrived on the scene around 4:20 p.m. to find Jake Bean unconscious on the ground next to his mother’s body. He was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the incident. Bean had been acting violently towards his father, James Bean, before an argument ensued between him and Tracy. During the altercation, Bean pulled out a gun, aimed it at his mother, and fired, fatally wounding her in the chest. Tracy Bean had attempted to wrestle the weapon away from her son before being shot.
