Bruceville-Eddy, Texas — A 33-year-old man has been convicted of killing a father and son in what prosecutors described as a calculated ambush fueled by rivalry between rival biker clubs.
Background
Romi Frentescu was charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the October 2024 deaths of Michael David Morris, 38, and his son Braxton Johnson, 18. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Mackey Ranch Road and Old Moody Road in Bruceville-Eddy, a small community roughly 20 miles south of Waco.
The violence stemmed from an ongoing feud between rival motorcycle clubs. Frentescu is a ranking member of the Ugly Man Cossacks, while Morris was affiliated with the 1%ers Cossacks, according to prosecutors with the McLennan County District Attorney's Office.
"He was my rock," said one family member of Michael David Morris outside the courtroom following the verdict. "Braxton had his whole life ahead of him — he was just starting to figure out who he wanted to be." The family has requested privacy as they process the loss of both men, leaving behind a community grappling with senseless violence that claimed two generations in a single afternoon.
Defense attorneys argued there was long-standing bad blood between Morris and Frentescu but painted Morris as the aggressor on the day in question. They claimed Frentescu acted in self-defense after Morris allegedly pulled a switchblade on him.
The Investigation
Prosecutors presented witness testimony describing how the confrontation unfolded. One neighbor said her daughter was outside playing basketball when she screamed about two men arguing in the road. The witness went outside to find the bikers "squaring up" as if to have a fistfight, but after someone said "let's do this," one of the men pulled out a gun.
Someone in a pickup truck drove over one of the motorcycles, and four shots rang out, according to testimony. A witness reported hearing one man scream, "You just murdered two people. You are going to prison."
Perhaps most damning was witness testimony about Frentescu's behavior after the shooting. The defendant returned to the crime scene with a woman and reportedly told a nurse rendering aid to one of the victims, "Let him f—ing die."
"There was no remorse for what he had done," the witness testified.
The same witness also said they never saw Morris with any knife during the confrontation. Officers who later arrested Frentescu noted his lack of visible injuries was inconsistent with a self-defense claim, according to charging documents obtained by KWTX.
A separate witness currently serving a six-month state jail sentence for various crimes testified that Frentescu admitted to killing two people after luring Morris out of his home. "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."
The Verdict
After roughly an hour of deliberations, jurors found Frentescu guilty of capital murder in both deaths. Under Texas law, because prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, Frentescu was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
"Romi is a peacemaker," one defense attorney said during closing arguments. "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 jury ultimately sided with the state, rejecting the self-defense narrative.
Key Takeaways
- Frentescu was convicted of two counts of capital murder in the October 2024 deaths of a father and son in Bruceville-Eddy, Texas
- Prosecutors said he lured Morris out before ambushing him and his son during a roadside altercation between rival biker clubs
- A witness testified Frentescu returned to the crime scene and told a nurse rendering aid: "Let him f—ing die"
- The defense claimed self-defense, arguing Morris pulled a knife first; witnesses said they never saw Morris with a weapon
- Jurors deliberated approximately one hour before reaching their verdict
- Frentescu was automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole under Texas law since prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty
What's Next
Frentescu will serve his sentence at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility. While the conviction and automatic life sentence are final, defense attorneys may explore post-conviction options, including filing motions for a new trial or appealing the verdict to higher courts. The McLennan County District Attorney's Office has indicated no plans to pursue additional charges related to this case at this time.