Romi Frentescu ambushed and shot to death a father and his teenage son at a rural Texas intersection, then returned to the crime scene to tell a nurse rendering aid to let one of the victims die, according to testimony presented during his capital murder trial.
Background
The violence erupted on Oct. 2024 at the intersection of Mackey Ranch Road and Old Moody Road in Bruceville-Eddy — a small community roughly 20 miles south of Waco. Frentescu, 33, was arrested shortly after the shooting that claimed the lives of 38-year-old Michael David Morris and his 18-year-old son Braxton Johnson.
The case centers on an escalating rivalry between rival biker organizations in Central Texas. Court records identify Frentescu as a ranking member of the Ugly Man Cossacks, while Morris was affiliated with the 1%ers Cossacks — a club prosecutors said harbored intense animosity toward the splinter group and had allegedly issued a "smash-on-sight order" targeting its members.
Defense attorneys argued there was longstanding bad blood between their client and Morris, painting the victim as the aggressor on the day of the shooting. According to testimony cited by Waco-based CBS affiliate KWTX, the defense claimed Morris drove past Frentescu's residence revving his engine and making obscene gestures — allegedly after previously threatening to burn down Frentescu's house and kill his dog.
"Romi is a peacemaker," one defense attorney said during opening statements. "He tried to calm the situation down. He tried to mediate the situation, but Morris would have nothing to do with that… Romo was defending himself every minute of that day."
The Investigation
Prosecutors pursued two counts of capital murder along with charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence and terroristic threat.
A key prosecution witness — currently serving a six-month state jail sentence for unrelated crimes — testified that Frentescu admitted to luring Morris out of his home in preparation for the confrontation. "He said it was like when you are fishing and casting bait for fish to come," the witness recalled. "He said he went out looking for him on his motorcycle to draw him out like bait. He just told me that it got done, that he had completed the project that he set out to do."
Multiple witnesses described the shooting sequence. One man testified his daughter was outside playing basketball when she screamed about two men arguing in the road. Upon investigating, he observed the bikers "squaring up" as if to fistfight before someone said "let's do this" and a gun appeared. A pickup truck then drove over one of the motorcycles, and four shots rang out.
"You just murdered two people. You are going to prison," one of the men could be heard screaming during the chaos, according to witness testimony.
The most damning testimony came regarding Frentescu's actions immediately after the violence. Witnesses said he fled in a red pickup driven by a woman — but returned shortly thereafter. That's when prosecutors allege he approached a nurse rendering aid and stated: "Let him f—ing die."
"There was no remorse for what he had done," the witness testified.
Officers who arrested Frentescu noted his lack of visible injuries was inconsistent with his claim of self-defense, according to charging documents obtained by Fox affiliate KWKT. The defense maintained their client acted only after Morris pulled a switchblade on him — but one witness specifically stated he never observed Morris in possession of any knife.
Key Takeaways
- Frentescu was found guilty of two counts of capital murder following roughly an hour of jury deliberations
- Because prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, Texas law automatically sentenced him to life imprisonment without possibility of parole
- Prosecution witness testified that Frentescu described the killing as a deliberate "bait" operation to lure Morris into confrontation
- The defendant allegedly returned to the crime scene and instructed medical personnel to abandon one of the victims
- Rival biker gang tensions between the Ugly Man Cossacks and 1%ers Cossacks reportedly fueled the deadly encounter
What's Next
Frentescu will serve his sentence at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility. The verdict marks the conclusion of criminal proceedings in this case, though the McLennan County District Attorney's Office may pursue additional post-conviction matters as needed.