Geoffrey Brady, a 41-year-old Caucasian man from Arlington, Texas, was described by a friend as an "awesome guy, very laid-back." He was a member of the Ghost Riders motorcycle club, and friends said that if you ever had a problem, you could tell it to him without being judged.
On the night of December 12, 2014, Brady was at Gator's Jam Inn, a biker bar in Fort Worth, with his wife and friends. The evening turned violent when about 30 members of the rival Bandidos motorcycle club stormed the bar. Prosecutors later described the incident as an ambush rooted in a turf war. The Bandidos, who claimed Texas as their territory, were retaliating against other clubs, including the Ghost Riders, for wearing a Texas patch on their vests. Witnesses described the scene as "complete chaos," with gunshots and people screaming to get down and call 911.
During the melee, another man was attacked and knocked to the ground as assailants tried to rip the patches from his vest.
Geoffrey Brady was dragged out of the bar's front door, where he was executed in front of his wife and friends. A witness who found him on the ground with blood pouring from his face located a pulse but was afraid to move him. Brady died from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to his head. Two other men, ages 32 and 44, were also shot and seriously injured in the attack.
Investigators quickly focused on Howard Wayne Baker, the 62-year-old president of the Fort Worth Bandidos chapter. Prosecutors alleged that Baker orchestrated the attack and that his members would not act without his order. The motive, they argued, was that the Ghost Riders refused to "pay homage" to Baker and respect his club's claim to the territory. Baker was arrested two days after the murder and charged with murder, aggravated assault, and engaging in organized crime. Two other Bandidos members, Robert Stover and Nicholas Povendo, were also arrested in connection with the killing.
Baker's trial was held under heightened security, with state troopers lining the courthouse and all attendees subject to pat-downs. During the trial, witnesses testified that they saw Baker at the scene holding a gun and standing in the circle of men around Brady after he was shot, though no one testified to seeing Baker fire the fatal shot. A Tarrant County jury found Howard Wayne Baker guilty of murder and engaging in organized crime.
In June 2017, a judge sentenced Baker to 45 years in prison for one charge and 40 years for the other, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
