Police are looking for a motive in the shooting death of a Nederland man.
26-year-old Cody Hokett was shot in the chest with a shotgun around 9:45 Monday night at a home in the 3100 block of Cleveland in Groves.
The home was being rented out to 25-year-old John Mason Broadway. That's the same man police believe shot Hokett. He is in jail on a murder charge.
Hokett later died at Christus Hospital St. Mary.
Cody Hokett's mother, Jerrie Hokett, says Broadway was a new friend to her son.
Looking at pictures of her son, she now wants answers.
"He was such a sweet, loving man, and I don't really know why anybody would want to take his life," said Hokett.
In five days they were supposed to celebrate his 27th birthday, but just after midnight Tuesday police knocked on her door to tell her her youngest child had been shot to death outside a home in Groves.
"No mother dreams that their child will go before them, never. I just want to see my son. That's all I want to do and be able to hold him one more time," said Hokett.
While Broadway was arrested on murder charges, Groves Police City Marshal Jeff Wilmore says those charges could be raised to capital murder charges because Broadway was located in Beaumont inside the victim's truck.
"He was in possesion of the victims truck, and that's what he apparently fled the scene in, the victims truck. So that is likely a theft, and a theft with a murder is capital," said City Marshal Wilmore.
A man who tired to help Hokett survive says Hokett described Broadway as his attacker.
Groves police City Marshal Jeff Wilmore says while Broadway did indicate to police he shot Hokett, they still don't know why.
"It's still early yet for us to find a motive," said City Marshal Wilmore.
Hokett worked at his cousin's shop, Baker Distributing, since he and his family moved to Nederland a few years ago from Llano, Texas.
Hokett's mother says Broadway was a plant worker, and her son had only known him for a matter of months.
An avid fisherman with an older sister, Hokett was a family man.
While this mother holds her pictures close, she says she will continue looking for closure.
"Nobody can take away my memories, he'll always be my son."
Police say they are working closely with witnesses to find out a motive for the shooting, and since Hokett was able to speak to someone before he died, that is helping in the investigation.
The family says the funeral will be held at Melancon's Funeral Home in Nederland. A date has not been scheduled yet. They will also be holding a memorial service for Hokett in Llano, Texas.
