On Friday, July 26, 2024, 24-year-old Jacoby McCloud pled guilty and was sentenced to two life terms for the murders of his roommates, 26-year-old Darion Deen and 22-year-old Shelby Amerson.
The incident occurred on January 2, 2022, at a residence in the 300 block of Cromwell Street, east of Downtown Fort Worth. McCloud shot and killed Deen, who was unarmed, and then stabbed Amerson to death. After committing the murders, McCloud inflicted stab wounds on himself in an attempt to stage a self-defense scenario. He placed the knife in Deen's open hand before calling 911, claiming he shot his friend because his friend had stabbed him.
The investigation revealed that McCloud shot Deen four times while Deen was unarmed. McCloud then pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed himself multiple times in the left bicep. He later confessed to police that while stabbing himself, Amerson entered the living room and witnessed him. McCloud followed her into the bedroom and stabbed her.
A witness hiding in the house during the crimes was discovered by police. The witness informed investigators that Deen owned the house and was in a relationship with Amerson. The day before the murders, Deen reportedly broke into McCloud’s room, damaged some of his property, and took two puppies.
The case was prosecuted by Tarrant County Assistant District Attorneys Stuart Neal and Danielle Bonanno, with the Fort Worth Police Department conducting the investigation.
During the court proceedings on Friday, Shelby Amerson's mother addressed McCloud, saying, "I hope you spend the rest of your life thinking ... about what you took from this world."
