Tommy Ray Freney III, 28, was shot and killed outside the Westside Saloon on Alta Mere Drive in west Fort Worth on August 4, 2022. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Freney died of a gunshot wound to the head at about 2:15 a.m. after shots were fired during a fight; he was found dead in the parking lot outside the bar.

Freney was described by his mother, Carla Ray Cooks, as a loving and caring father to two boys and two girls, with another child on the way. At 6 feet 4 inches he was remembered as high-spirited, generous, and someone who could lighten up a room; he was also a brother to six sisters.

The investigation led to the arrest and conviction of 25-year-old Francis Sparks, a documented gang member. During trial the jury heard that Sparks fired 14 rounds during the fight and that one bullet struck Freney in the head; Sparks was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.