Labertrand Bell has pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder and received two life sentences, with one term handed down without the possibility of parole, in connection with separate 2023 shootings in Fort Worth and nearby Forest Hill. According to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the plea and sentencing mark the conclusion of a two-part homicide investigation that began last summer, with local prosecutors and investigators crediting both city and county police for getting the cases into a courtroom.
Plea Deal Closes Out Prosecution
According to a post from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office on X, Bell acknowledged guilt to two counts of capital murder and was given two life terms, one of them without the possibility of parole. The transcript released by the office lists Assistant District Attorneys Lloyd Whelchel and Madeline Jones as handling the case, with investigator Caleb Blank and victim coordinator Elizabeth Garcia among the team members recognized in the prosecution. In its message, the DA’s office publicly thanked both the Forest Hill and Fort Worth police departments for their work on the investigations.
Thanks to both the Forest Hill and Fort Worth Police Departments for their work on these cases and for their commitment to keeping our communities safe. pic.twitter.com/KjTRBLLV5r
— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) January 29, 2026
Three Victims, Two Cities, One Summer
Prosecutors linked Bell to a July 18, 2023 shooting in Fort Worth that left 19-year-olds Manuel Guzman Jr. and Jesus Rodriguez dead, and to an August 7, 2023 homicide in Forest Hill in which 45-year-old Corey Wallace Sr. was killed, per reporting by The Dallas Morning News. Court documents and investigators said the Fort Worth incident began during an attempted robbery of marijuana at a home on the 2800 block of Lulu Street. Surveillance footage, witness identifications, and additional investigative leads were described as tying Bell to that scene. Authorities say officers arrested Bell on August 13 at a home on Griggs Court after he tried to run from police.
How Texas Law Treats Capital Murder
Under Texas law, capital murder is a capital felony that can be punished by death or by life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, depending on the specifics of the case and prosecutorial decisions. The statute identifies killings that occur during certain felonies, multiple homicides, and other aggravating circumstances as capital offenses. If the state does not pursue the death penalty, sentencing options under the statute include life or life without parole. Bell’s two life sentences, including one that explicitly bars parole, fit within that framework as set out in the Texas Penal Code, according to Justia.
Next Steps After the Guilty Plea
The DA’s post notes that prosecutors and local law enforcement coordinated to move the cases into court but does not say whether the state ever considered seeking the death penalty for Bell. With his guilty plea and sentences, the criminal case against Bell himself is resolved. Other suspects connected to the Forest Hill homicide had been arrested earlier and still face prosecution. In its message, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office emphasized victim services and cooperation among agencies as the cases proceed through final court processing. Tarrant County DA.
