Texas Man Who Drove 250 Miles To Kill New Boyfriend Of His Child’s Mother And Shot Wrong Person Gets 27 Years In Prison

A Texan individual has been sentenced to twenty years in prison following an unsuccessful murder plot.

According to Law and Crime, Kendell Morris, 26, reportedly made a significant journey from Houston to Arlington, spanning approximately 256 miles, with the intention of harming the mother of his child’s new boyfriend. This incident occurred in May 2020.

Morris allegedly drove to a residence, thinking it was the boyfriend’s place. Prosecutors assert that Morris embarked on the journey with the intention of taking the man’s life.

Based on court records examined by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Morris had never personally encountered the new boyfriend. The only information he had about him was a brief physical description – a Black man with dreadlocks.

Thanks to the Arlington Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe. pic.twitter.com/ewYvnNmn8S

— Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) December 20, 2023

“He thought he saw the boyfriend and opened fire, killing Robert Cooley III, 24, who was not the boyfriend,” wrote Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells in a news release.

The alleged murder occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Morris was ultimately apprehended in Madisonville, located 160 miles south of Arlington, by a diligent trooper. An AR-15 rifle was discovered inside of his car, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Morris received a 27-year prison sentence from a Tarrant County jury on Wednesday.

Per an online obituary, Cooley was an “exceptional” athlete,  and musician with hopes of “becoming big in the music industry.” Prior to his death, he published music under the username Cooley03.