Julian Rey Torrez

Julian Rey Torrez, a 46-year-old man from Fort Worth, Texas, was remembered as a caring person and known to some as "Jay." His life was tragically cut short in late 2023.

On the evening of November 25, 2023, around 8:15 p.m., Fort Worth police responded to a call at a residence in the 2300 block of North Houston Street, west of the Stockyards. In the backyard of the home, officers discovered Torrez, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told investigators they heard a gunshot and then saw a group of three people leave the area in a vehicle in a hurry. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the cause of death and officially ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Detectives opened an investigation, believing an altercation may have preceded the fatal shooting. While police initially had no suspects in custody, their work soon led them to a person of interest. Less than two weeks later, on December 8, 2023, authorities made an arrest in the case.

Police took 50-year-old Odell Thompson into custody and booked him into the Tarrant County Jail. He was charged with murder and tampering with evidence. A judge set his bond at $175,000. Officials have not publicly disclosed details about a potential motive or the nature of the relationship between Torrez and Thompson. As of December 2023, the case was proceeding through the legal system.