A 29-year-old Arlington man who admitted to gunning down three people at an apartment complex earlier this year will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Today, a judge sentenced Larry Dewayne Reed to life in prison without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to capital murder in the Jan. 25, 2024, shooting at the Chatham Green Village apartments in Arlington. The victims were identified as 29-year-olds Shannen Jones and Monique Smith and 31-year-old Dreyon Glenn.
Plea and sentence from the DA
In a post on X, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office said Reed pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The office publicly thanked the Arlington Police Department for its work on the case and its commitment to public safety, and noted that Reed had been brought back to Tarrant County ahead of the sentencing hearing.
Thanks to the Arlington Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe. pic.twitter.com/3f5OJcm0f5
— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) March 9, 2026
Arrest and investigation details
The Arlington Police Department reported that detectives identified Reed as the suspect and, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals and Mississippi authorities, tracked him to Greenville, Mississippi. He was arrested there on Feb. 6, 2024, and held in Washington County while waiting to be extradited back to Texas. The Marshals Service has described tips and witness accounts as crucial in helping investigators find him.
Victims, prior record and community reaction
Neighbors and relatives have been mourning the three victims, and a balloon release was held as part of a memorial, according to reporting by The Dallas Morning News. Court records cited in that reporting show Reed previously pleaded guilty to the 2012 murder of 18-year-old Obeth Hernandez and received a sentence of about 11 years, with records indicating he was released in December 2023. Coverage by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has also highlighted a 2021 prison livestream that appears to show Reed attacking a cellmate; officials with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said he was disciplined for that incident but did not receive additional prison time.
What the sentence means under Texas law
Under Texas law, a capital murder conviction comes with only two possible outcomes: the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. By entering a guilty plea, Reed received the latter. The state’s criminal procedure code spells out those limited options and the rules for handling capital cases, which means Reed will not be eligible for release under this sentence.
