A 22-year-old man, who is charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of two men outside an Arlington strip club, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for committing an unrelated robbery and shooting eight days earlier.
Last week, jurors convicted Robert Earl Bell Jr. of aggravated robbery for robbing and shooting a man on July 3, 2009, outside a Fort Worth apartment complex.
On Monday, the jury— who also heard evidence of the capital murders— deliberated about 45 minutes in assessing the maximum punishment.
During the trial in Judge Robb Catalano’s court, prosecutors Steve Gebhardt and Christy Jack presented evidence that in the early morning hours of July 3, 2009, Bell and his date were hanging out with Christopher Richardson and his date in the parking lot of a Fort Worth apartment complex in the 6500 block of Copper Stone Drive. At one point, Bell pulled out a revolver and demanded money from Richardson.
After Richardson handed over his wallet, Bell shot him once in the chest. Richardson survived.
During the punishment phase of the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that, eight days after Richardson’s shooting, Bell and his cousin, Darren Bell, were looking to “hit a lick” – street slang for committing a robbery. On July 11, 2009, they approached Jorge Perez and Edgar Ruiz -Araiza outside the Chicas Locas strip club in Arlington and demanded money.
Despite their compliance, Robert Bell shot them eight times with a .22 long rifle, killing them.
The jury also heard about Robert Bell’s extensive juvenile history, including a four-year stint in a juvenile correctional facility. While there, he had more than 200 infractions, which included numerous assaults and possessing a shank.
He was on juvenile parole when he went on his July 2009 rampage. Darren Bell, who testified during Robert Bell’s trial, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his part in the Chicas Locas robberies.
“This defendant showed his lack of regard for human life when he gunned down two people and left a third for dead,” said Assistant District Attorney Steve Gebhardt. “This office worked tirelessly to put this case together and we’re grateful for the jury’s decision. Their verdict was three years in the making.”
