DALLAS, Texas — A man has been sentenced to life in prison after a high-speed police chase across North Texas ended in a fatal head-on crash that killed an Air Force veteran.
A jury found 36-year-old Devonte Deshaunae Webber guilty of murder and handed down a life sentence on April 6, 2026, following a trial in Dallas County.
The case stems from a December 28, 2024 pursuit that began in Fort Worth and stretched more than 55 miles across the metroplex. According to prosecutors, Fort Worth police initially attempted to stop a black Jeep Wagoneer on Interstate 20 around 1:30 p.m., but the driver fled, sparking a chase that lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Authorities said the pursuit was monitored by a Fort Worth police helicopter, capturing the entire incident on video.
During the chase, Webber drove at high speeds and evaded multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety. Troopers eventually executed a PIT maneuver near Interstate 35E south of Inwood Road, causing the vehicle to spin and stop facing the wrong direction on the service road.
Prosecutors said Webber then drove the wrong way for approximately 23 seconds at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, running through the intersection before crashing head-on into an Audi sedan.
The driver of the Audi, identified as 36-year-old Joel Jusino Bergollo, was killed in the crash. Bergollo was an Air Force veteran.
After the collision, Webber exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away before being taken into custody at gunpoint by DPS troopers. Investigators later confirmed the Jeep Wagoneer had been stolen out of Chicago.
Prosecutors said the December 28 pursuit followed earlier incidents involving Webber. On December 24, he allegedly stole hundreds of dollars in groceries from a Burleson store and threatened an employee before fleeing. Police later determined the vehicle he was driving displayed a stolen license plate.
On December 25, Grand Prairie police also attempted to stop the same vehicle, but Webber again fled at high speeds.
The case was prosecuted by Rachel Warner and Andrew James, with assistance from investigators Ron Cathcart and Eric Knight.
The jury returned a guilty verdict after 15 minutes of deliberation and reached a punishment decision in 43 minutes.
Webber will serve a life sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
