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The man accused of shooting and killing a Texas Christian University student nearly two years ago in the West 7th area of Fort Worth was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Thursday, according to a news release from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office.
Matthew Purdy Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to murder in connection with the death of Wes Smith, who was gunned down during a night out in the entertainment district, officials said.
During the court proceeding, Purdy was also given a 20-year prison sentence on an aggravated assault charge for pistol whipping another TCU student shortly after Smith was shot, officials said.
According to the news release, Purdy was also sentenced on eight other felony charges, receiving a total sentence of 206 years, but the judge agreed to allow him to serve all of the sentences concurrently.
Crime in The News
Related:TCU student shot and killed in Fort Worth’s West 7th area
Purdy shot Smith on Sept 1, 2023, while the two were outside a Fort Worth bar named Your Mom’s House.
According to police reports, Purdy said he shot Smith because the student asked Purdy about his father, who had been assaulted in the area.
Investigators say Purdy shot the TCU junior from Tennessee twice in the body and then once in the head after he’d fallen to the ground. Purdy then assaulted a female TCU student and fled from the scene.
According to the news release, Purdy said he shot Smith in the head to ensure he was dead, but did not shoot the other victim because he ran out of bullets.
Smith, 21, died later that evening after being rushed to a local hospital.
Smith’s family had the opportunity to speak directly to Purdy after his sentencing.
Philip Smith, the student’s father, told the gunman he believed his son was a hero, taking the last bullet from Purdy’s gun so no one else had to.
Smith’s mother, Dorree Smith, spoke about how her son brought out the best in their family, which now has an empty presence without him.
“Wes is now in Heaven. You are still on Earth,” she told Purdy. “You have a chance to give your story a different ending. … I pray you can find a different ending by finding God’s love. Live like Wes.”
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The man accused of shooting and killing a Texas Christian University student nearly two years ago in the West 7th area of Fort Worth was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Thursday, according to a news release from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office.
Matthew Purdy Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to murder in connection with the death of Wes Smith, who was gunned down during a night out in the entertainment district, officials said.
During the court proceeding, Purdy was also given a 20-year prison sentence on an aggravated assault charge for pistol whipping another TCU student shortly after Smith was shot, officials said.
According to the news release, Purdy was also sentenced on eight other felony charges, receiving a total sentence of 206 years, but the judge agreed to allow him to serve all of the sentences concurrently.
Crime in The News
Related:TCU student shot and killed in Fort Worth’s West 7th area
Purdy shot Smith on Sept 1, 2023, while the two were outside a Fort Worth bar named Your Mom’s House.
According to police reports, Purdy said he shot Smith because the student asked Purdy about his father, who had been assaulted in the area.
Investigators say Purdy shot the TCU junior from Tennessee twice in the body and then once in the head after he’d fallen to the ground. Purdy then assaulted a female TCU student and fled from the scene.
According to the news release, Purdy said he shot Smith in the head to ensure he was dead, but did not shoot the other victim because he ran out of bullets.
Smith, 21, died later that evening after being rushed to a local hospital.
Smith’s family had the opportunity to speak directly to Purdy after his sentencing.
Philip Smith, the student’s father, told the gunman he believed his son was a hero, taking the last bullet from Purdy’s gun so no one else had to.
Smith’s mother, Dorree Smith, spoke about how her son brought out the best in their family, which now has an empty presence without him.
“Wes is now in Heaven. You are still on Earth,” she told Purdy. “You have a chance to give your story a different ending. … I pray you can find a different ending by finding God’s love. Live like Wes.”
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