‘Youth Feud’ ends with a North Richland Hills man killed and three teenagers charged with murder

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – According to police, a so-called “youth feud” escalated into violence and ended with the murder of an innocent man in North Richland Hills.

Brian Cason Pence, 52, died at his home on Stonybrooke Drive the night before Thanksgiving after a group in an Infiniti fired shots at his house, according to police.

North Richland Hills police say surveillance video from the neighborhood helped track down the three suspects who targeted the wrong home.

The night before Thanksgiving, police say 19-year-old Anthony Zapata, 18-year-old Martin Marquez Diaz and 17-year-old Alexander Ortega drove by and shot at Pence’s house.

One of the shots hit Pence as he lay in bed. He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Police say neighborhood watch helped them track down the suspect vehicle: a silver 2006 Infiniti.

From there, North Richland Hills detectives and Fort Worth police officers located and arrested the suspects.

Investigators learned that Pence was not the target and that the intended victim lived nearby.

“It was the wrong house,” said North Richland Hills Police Officer Sarah Chilutti.

The reason for the shooting is what police call a “youth feud.”

“So when we talk about youth feud, it is a fight of young teenagers,” Chilutti said. “Nothing substantial and nothing that should have led to this level of violence.”

All three were charged with first-degree murder.

Police said they have spoken to the intended victim and are confident everyone is involved.

“Ultimately, I hope we can bring them some peace knowing that the three involved are in custody and will be brought to justice when the time comes,” Chilutti said.

Police say additional patrol officers have been in the neighborhood since the shooting.

Zapata and Marquez Diaz were booked into the Tarrant County Jail. Ortega remains in the Fort Worth city jail. All three are charged with murder.