Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Killing TCU Student in West 7th District Shooting

Guilty Plea Brings Justice in Heartbreaking 2023 Murder Case
The man responsible for the tragic 2023 shooting of TCU student Wes Smith has been sentenced to 60 years in state prison. On Thursday morning, 23-year-old Matthew Purdy pleaded guilty to all charges related to Smith’s murder and accepted a plea deal offered by the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.

A Senseless Act in a Popular Fort Worth District
The deadly shooting occurred on September 1, 2023, near the 3000 block of Bledsoe Street in Fort Worth’s West 7th District. Wes Smith, a junior finance major at Texas Christian University and native of Germantown, Tennessee, was shot multiple times outside a bar in the busy entertainment area.

Police investigators later confirmed that Purdy had no known connection to Smith. He randomly fired three shots, fatally wounding the 21-year-old student. In a disturbing confession, Purdy told police he would have shot more people if he hadn’t run out of ammunition. Detectives said he provided no clear motive for the attack.

Insanity Defense Withdrawn Before Trial
Purdy was initially scheduled to stand trial in July. His legal team had planned to argue an insanity defense, citing schizophrenia and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Court filings also referenced his mother’s history of mental illness and substance abuse during pregnancy. However, with the guilty plea, the case was resolved before reaching trial.

Family Shares Grief and Strength in Courtroom Statements
Following the plea deal, Wes Smith’s family members addressed Purdy directly during emotional victim impact statements. His father, Philip Smith, described the pain and devastation left behind by his son’s murder.

“You physically murdered and executed Wes, but you emotionally and psychologically murdered thousands of other people, including probably everyone in this courtroom,” he said. “You have a dark and ugly soul, if you have any soul at all.”

Wes's mother, Doree Jane Smith, recalled that her son would have graduated this past spring. She shared that on the night of his death, he had been helping coach a group of middle school students, showing the compassion and leadership that defined him.

“He truly loved his family and friends more than anything, and he drew energy from them and from being with them,” she said. “This story could have had a different ending, because Wes had a heart to help. If you had just spoken to him, he would have met you with compassion.”

Legacy of Love and Service Lives On
Despite their unimaginable grief, the Smith family expressed their commitment to continuing Wes’s legacy. They have established a scholarship fund in his name to support TCU students facing financial need.

“I regret that the one person there that night that would have helped you is the person you executed,” Philip Smith told Purdy. “We will take Wes’s light and the light of his life from this place and continue to shine it across the world.”

He added, “And when death finds you one day, as it surely will, may God take vengeance on your soul.”

Family Finds Closure Through Sentencing
After the hearing, the Smiths expressed relief at the sentencing outcome. Speaking outside the courtroom, Philip Smith called it “a sad event but also a productive event” and said the plea agreement helped them begin the healing process.

“It allows us to end this part of it and move on,” he said.

Now, the family says their focus is on remembering how Wes lived.

Remembering Wes Smith’s Life and Impact
Wes Smith is remembered as a scholar, an athlete, a leader, and a young man deeply rooted in his faith. He coached younger students at All Saints Episcopal and was known for his kindness, optimism, and high energy.

“Wes lived joyfully, energetically—he was full of gusto all the time,” said his mother. “That’s what he wants for everyone.”

Although Wes could not attend his own graduation, his family did, proudly honoring his academic journey and the life he built at TCU. As they mourn the moments he’ll never have, they also celebrate the ripple effect of his legacy—one that continues to inspire and uplift others.

“I think it creates a ripple effect that keeps spreading a little bit as his story keeps getting told,” said Doree Jane.