Matthew Purdy Wiki – Matthew Purdy Biography
Matthew Purdy, a suspect arrested in the murder of TCU student Wes Smith, could not provide a motive but admitted to shooting him three times, police say.
Wes Smith, 21, of Germantown, Tennessee, was outside Your Mom’s House bar in Fort Worth’s West 7th Ward when Matthew Purdy, also 21, allegedly approached him around 1 a.m. Officers said Purdy spoke briefly with Smith and then opened fire, shooting him in the shoulder and stomach. When Smith fell to the sidewalk, Purdy shot him in the head. Two people who were nearby and witnessed the murder fled the scene and were chased by Purdy, who hit the fleeing woman in the back of the head with the gun. Purdy was arrested shortly thereafter, frisked and placed in a patrol car. A short time later, an officer noticed movement and discovered Purdy still had the gun pointed. He had taken it apart and threw pieces out of the car when the officer opened the door to check on him.
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Age
Matthew Purdy is 21 years old.
TCU student shot and killed in Fort Worth’s West 7th area
Police now believe he hid the 9mm handgun in his crotch. Purdy told police he would have killed the woman if she hadn’t run out of ammunition, The Star-Telegram reported. Purdy told police he shot Smith in the head “because he wanted to make sure he was dead,” according to the affidavit. He could not explain why he shot Smith and it is not believed the two knew each other. Purdy was on probation in Tarrant County, which encompasses Fort Worth, after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery last year. He remains in jail, with bail set at $500,000. Meanwhile, Smith’s friends and family spoke of his devastation at her senseless murder. He was a finance major in college, was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and had played for the Horned Frogs football team as a freshman. He also coached soccer, including the mayor’s son’s team.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said Friday that Smith was “an extraordinary young man.” Smith attended St. George Independent School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was student body president and athletics prefect, excelling in lacrosse, basketball and soccer. In December 2020, he was named Tennessee’s Division II Defensive Player of the Year. “I was very surprised by the violence of a young man who really cared so much about everyone,” said Timothy Gibson, the school’s principal. Smith graduated in 2021. In a letter to staff and parents, Gibson said Smith “excelled in every way: as a scholar, athlete and leader.” Gibson continued, “Wes was always a leader who made everyone around him better.” The Smith family paid tribute to his life. “Wes was truly a wonderful and loving son, brother, cousin and friend to many,” they said. “We are heartbroken by his passing and ask for space to grieve during this terribly difficult time.”
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