FORT WORTH, Texas - A Georgia man who drove hundreds of miles to Texas to kill his father after planning the attack for months has been sentenced to life in prison.
In the 372nd District Court in Tarrant County, 29-year-old Xavier Bass pleaded guilty to the murder of his father, 54-year-old Gene Bass. A jury later sentenced him to life in prison.
The shooting occurred on June 28, 2024, at Gene Bass' home on Chesapeake Bay Drive in south Fort Worth. According the The Central Georgian, the suspect was from Valdosta, Georgia.
According to investigators, Xavier Bass drove from Georgia to Fort Worth in his Ford Mustang after planning the killing for months.
Gene Bass, a retired U.S. Army master sergeant, was serving as a JROTC instructor for Crowley ISD. The school district said he worked with cadets across every Crowley ISD middle and high school campus and described him as a beloved educator who positively impacted countless students and staff members.
"This is an incredibly sad time for all of us, especially those who knew MSGT Bass as an instructor and friend," Crowley ISD said following his death. "He was an outstanding educator and colleague, and he touched the lives of countless students and staff."
Investigators said Xavier Bass approached his father outside the residence armed with a handgun and immediately opened fire.
Gene Bass attempted to run for safety, but prosecutors said his son chased him through the yard, firing repeatedly. He was struck 12 times, including two gunshots to the head, and died at the scene.
After the shooting, Xavier Bass drove back to Georgia.
Fort Worth police quickly identified Bass as the suspect after obtaining surveillance video from the neighborhood. His girlfriend in Georgia later identified him from the footage.
According to the arrest affidavit, Bass had discussed his plans weeks before the killing. His girlfriend told investigators he had previously said he needed to drive to Texas and that she would "hear why on the news." She convinced him not to make the trip at that time.
Investigators said Bass later called his father and told him he was coming to visit but did not explain the reason for the trip.
The girlfriend also told detectives that Bass believed his father had failed him during his childhood and blamed him for leaving him with his mother to struggle financially and emotionally.
Authorities arrested Bass the day after the shooting in South Georgia. He was extradited to Tarrant County on July 23, 2024.
Bass remained in the Tarrant County Jail throughout the case after being unable to post his $500,000 bond.
“This is absolutely a life sentence case,” ADA Ashlea Deener told the jury. “Someday he will get out. … When he gets out, will you feel safe? Will you be able to sleep?”
With his guilty plea and the jury's punishment verdict, Bass will spend the rest of his life in prison for the killing of his father.
The case was prosecuted by Ashlea Deener and Anthony Salinas. The DA investigator was Caleb Blank and the case required two victim coordinators: Laura Medina and Christi Garcia.
