Crime
In 2020, 23-year-old Kendell Jerrell Morris had several heated phone conversations with the new boyfriend of his child’s mother.
By May 3rd, 2020, Morris was fed up with being disrespected, so he and a friend bought magazines for an AR-15.
According to Fox4News, the next day, the two men drove from Houston, Texas, to Arlington, Texas, where the new boyfriend of his child’s mother lived.
Morris had never met the guy or seen a picture of him before, but he knew he was black and had dreadlocks.
When the two arrived at the Bardin Greene Apartments, they saw Robert Cooley III in the parking lot, and he fit the description.
Morris shot and killed the 24-year-old, thinking he was the guy who kept disrespecting him over the phone, but Cooley was an innocent man.
After killing the wrong man, Morris and his friend fled the scene.
According to KBTX, a be on the lookout alert was issued and near highway 21 in Madisonville, a Texas State Trooper spotted the vehicle and it was stopped. A passenger was detained, but the driver fled. The driver was stopped again and arrested down the road.
Both men were charged with murder, but Morris’s friend later had his charges dropped.
Legal Proceedings
Three years after the crime, Morris went to trial and was convicted. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
He will be eligible for parole on May 25th, 2034. If he serves his entire sentence, he will be released on November 24th, 2047.
DOB:
1998Conviction(s):
- Murder
Date of crime:
May 4th, 2020Location(s):
Arlington, TXDate of arrest:
Same dayDetails:
Thought he was killing his baby mother's new boyfriend.Confirmed Victim(s):
- Robert Cooley III (24)
Method:
ShootingMotive(s):
Mistaken identitySentence:
27 yearsCurrent whereabouts:
Jim Ferguson Unit in Midway, TXLast Updated on 06/13/2026
