Man Sentenced to Life for Fatally Shooting Fort Worth Neighbor in Fit of Anger over Sidewalk Toy

A sidewalk connected two apartments in the Berry Street-Stalcup Road area on the east side of Fort Worth. However, the concrete strip was often blocked by car seats, bicycles, and other items belonging to the children who lived there. This caused frustration for one of the tenants, Edward Murray, who would often become angry when toys were in his way.

Murray, who is white, had a history of using racial slurs. His neighbor, Ashley Lacy, who is Black, lived with her partner, Antonio Robinson, and their three children. They tried to avoid Murray and would stay out of his way, designating the back yard as his domain and using the front yard for themselves and their children.

One Sunday evening in September 2020, Murray kicked a ball that was on the sidewalk. What happened next is not entirely clear, but Murray went to his bedroom and retrieved a revolver. He fired three shots at Robinson, who was outside their apartments. Robinson did not have a weapon, and neither Lacy nor Robinson made any physical contact with Murray when he fired the shots.

Lacy and her 9-year-old son used towels to try to stop Robinson’s bleeding. He was taken to the hospital but did not survive. Murray left the scene in a pickup truck and was later arrested at his sister’s home near Lake Whitney.

Murray, 57, was indicted on murder charges and was found guilty by a jury. The jury then determined that Murray should serve a life sentence in prison and pay a $10,000 fine, the maximum punishment for the crime. The jury had the option to choose a term of 15 to 99 years or life.

During the trial, Murray chose not to testify at the guilt-innocence phase but did take the witness stand during the defense punishment case. He revealed that he had a history of being molested as a child and struggled with substance abuse. He admitted to drinking vodka before the shooting and expressed remorse for his actions.

Murray’s criminal history, including a previous conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child, was not disclosed to the jury until after the guilty verdict was reached.

In the moments leading up to the shooting, Murray had banged on Robinson’s front door and a confrontation ensued. Lacy believed Murray was about to shoot her, so she went back inside. Murray shot Robinson and then pointed the gun at Lacy before leaving the scene with his boyfriend.

Lacy was interviewed by Detective Kent Bickley that night, unaware that Robinson had died. In her anguish, she wrote on a dry erase board, “My love will live and not die.” When Bickley returned, he delivered the devastating news of Robinson’s death to Lacy.

Overall, Murray’s actions resulted in the tragic loss of a life and have now led to his conviction for murder.