San Antonio Man Sentenced to Life for Brutal Murder in Junction RV Park

JUNCTION, TX — A San Antonio man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after a Kimble County jury found him guilty of murdering a fellow RV park resident in 2023, according to the 452nd District Attorney’s Office.

Keanu Swan Pratt, 26, was convicted of the murder of 32-year-old Christopher Gates of Junction after two days of testimony. The jury found that Pratt used a deadly weapon—identified as his hands, feet, and a heavy glass ashtray—during the offense. Judge Rob Hofmann imposed the life sentence.

According to evidence presented at trial, the two men had met on the night of July 24, 2023, after Gates moved into the RV park where Pratt also resided. The pair walked to a convenience store to buy alcohol and later returned to socialize at their adjacent trailers. The interaction turned violent around 2:30 a.m., prosecutors said, after the men relocated to Pratt’s trailer.

Pratt later told a Texas Ranger he blacked out from alcohol consumption and only realized he was beating Gates when he regained consciousness.

“I was beating his a** and I didn't realize why," Pratt said in a statement to a Texas Ranger. 

Despite Gates being unconscious, Pratt continued to assault him, including striking him in the face with an ashtray, according to testimony. Gates was pronounced deceased at the scene. A medical examiner determined he died from blunt force trauma to the head with possible manual strangulation.

The assault ended when RV park owners, awakened by the commotion, intervened and called 911. Prosecutors said Pratt also attacked the park owners before fleeing.

During sentencing, state experts described Pratt’s history of drug abuse starting at age 13 and his antisocial behavior. His criminal history began in juvenile court, officials said.

District Attorney Tonya Spaeth Ahlschwede, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorneys Havana Schmidt and Andy Murr, praised the investigation led by Junction Police Detective James Stewart, with assistance from the Kimble County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers.

“Chris Gates was a kind soul and cherished by those who knew him," Ahlschwede stated. "But for the heinous acts of the defendant, he would still be with us today. This conviction and sentence reflect our commitment to justice for victims and the security of our community.”