Jurors in Fort Worth have handed Jaquan Wright two life sentences in connection with a November 2022 street shooting that left one person dead and another critically injured on the 1500 block of East Robert Street. Investigators say Wright was affiliated with the APE gang, and prosecutors argued the case grew out of an alleged plan to hunt rival gang members to avenge the death of a friend. Homicide Detectives Cedillo and Pate (Ret.) were credited with building the case that led to the charges and eventual guilty verdict.
In a Facebook post, the Fort Worth Police Department said Wright was convicted of murder and engaging in organized criminal activity and received two life sentences. Prosecutors told jurors that Wright was hunting for rival gang members to avenge the murder of a friend when he opened fire on a crowd on Nov. 30, 2022, on East Robert Street, killing Courtney Guy and critically injuring a 45‑year‑old woman. Police publicly credited Homicide Detectives Cedillo and Pate (Ret.), DA investigator Steve Groppi, Victim Coordinator Laura Medina, and Assistant District Attorneys Dani Wojciak and Katie Owens for carrying the case from the crime scene to sentencing.
Investigation and prosecution
According to officials, the case against Wright hinged on coordinated work between Fort Worth detectives and Tarrant County prosecutors, who tracked down witnesses and assembled evidence for trial. That collaboration ultimately persuaded a jury to convict on both counts.
The Tarrant County team of trial attorneys and investigators has handled several high‑profile gang and violent‑crime cases in recent years, signaling a continued focus on street violence across the region. For additional context on the office's recent work, see a Hoodline report on similar prosecutions and sentences.
Legal implications
Wright was convicted of murder and of engaging in organized criminal activity, the latter charged under Texas Penal Code §71.02. That statute treats engaging in organized criminal activity as a first‑degree felony, punishable by life imprisonment or a term between 25 and 99 years. More detail is available in the Texas statutes.
Victim services remain active in the case. Victim Coordinator Laura Medina is among those who have worked with the family of Courtney Guy and with the surviving victim, according to police. The Fort Worth Police Department said the sentence reflects local authorities' commitment to pursuing violent offenders from arrest through prosecution. Investigators are urging anyone with information about related gang activity to contact Fort Worth homicide detectives.
