FORT WORTH -- Getting ready for a robbery early March 22, 2010, Randy Seibel told ringleader Kwame Rockwell that he wanted to back out, according to testimony read Friday at Seibel's capital murder trial.
"I told Kwame that we didn't need to do this and he did not need to do this," Fort Worth police Detective Tom Boetcher said as he read Seibel's statement."Kwame took out a gun and stuck it in my side and said, 'We're going to do this.' I had never had a gun stuck in my side before."Rockwell prevailed, and he, Seibel and three other men went forward with the plan.They had targeted C&D Kwik Stop, the Valero convenience store at 4125 Mansfield Highway, because they worked at a car lot next door and knew that the store owner kept money on hand to cash customers' checks, investigators have testified.According to store surveillance video, clerk Daniel Rojas-Torres, 22, and Jerry Burnett, a 70-year-old Mrs Baird's bread truck driver, were shot about 6:20 a.m. Rojas died there; Burnett lived 10 days.Seibel, 38, of Granbury, was arrested three days later. He told detectives that after weeks of talking about robbing the store, he wanted to call the whole thing off. But he went along with Rockwell because he feared for his and his family's safety after the robbery was done."After it happened, I just waited for Kwame to get me off somewhere alone and shoot me," Seibel told detectives.Rockwell, 37, was convicted of killing both men and is on Death Row. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty for Seibel. If convicted, he will automatically be sentenced to life without parole.Co-defendant Chance McKenzie Smith, 26, pleaded guilty and is serving a 20-year sentence. He testified against Rockwell and Seibel.Capital murder trials are pending for Tyrone Pierre Thomas, 25, and Timothy Vashuan Thomas, 23, both of Fort Worth.The jury is scheduled to hear closing arguments Monday in state District Judge Mike Thomas' court.Mitch Mitchell, 817-390-7752Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
