The state's theory was that Jones — a grandfather with no criminal history and with close relatives in law enforcement — got out of bed after receiving a text from his wife that she'd been pulled over. He walked 1.3 miles (2 kilometers), or possibly drove part of that distance, to her van. He saw and spoke with a tow-truck driver whom he knew, and who could presumably identify him. He became enraged and shot the trooper with a handgun. The tow-truck driver couldn't identify Jones because he didn't get a good enough look.