FORT WORTH — A Tarrant County jury on September 11, 2025, found 54-year-old Paul Darren Branton guilty of murder in the 2022 shooting death of James Jones and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
The fatal shooting happened late on April 23, 2022, at Jones’ home in the 3800 block of Earl Street. Investigators said Branton pulled into the driveway around 11:45 p.m., and Jones came outside to see who was there. Branton then opened fire, striking Jones multiple times in the upper torso.
Jones’ roommate attempted first aid, but the 30-year-old was pronounced dead shortly after first responders arrived.
According to police records, Branton told detectives that tensions with Jones had been building for months. He said an argument at a bar involving a girlfriend escalated when Jones punched him, and he had been “stewing” about the incident ever since. Branton admitted that repeated encounters with Jones, whom he had previously mentored, left him feeling disrespected. On the night of the shooting, Branton said he drove to Jones’ home to confront him and then shot him with a pistol.
Branton voluntarily turned himself in following the killing.
Prosecutors Tad Schmidt and Matt Hinojosa handled the case.
