Harassing, racist neighbor killed Fort Worth man over nothing, victim’s girlfriend says
Antonio Robinson answered the front door to his Fort Worth home Sunday night and asked, “What now?”
Robinson’s neighbor, Edward James Murray — who had harassed Robinson’s family for the last year — stood at the door, and the 54-year-old registered sex offender then opened fire, shooting Robinson at least five times, an arrest warrant stated.
Seconds later, the 9-year-old son of Robinson’s girlfriend tried stop the bleeding while his mother called 911, but the 39-year-old Fort Worth man died Sunday night shortly after the shooting, according to the warrant obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Murray fled the scene after the Sunday night shooting, but he was arrested Monday, police said. He faces charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to jail records. Murray is also accused of pointing a weapon at Robinson’s girlfriend after the shooting.
In addition, Murray was being held on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to jail records.
Murray remained in the Tarrant County Jail on Thursday on $160,000 bond.
Members of Robinson’s family said it was a tragic end to Murray’s harassment of Antonio Robinson and his family at their home on Waldorf Street in southeast Fort Worth.
“He was such a calm man,” said Monique Robinson of Dallas in a telephone interview with the Star-Telegram on Wednesday, referring to her brother-in-law, Antonio. “He was the type of person who kept the peace. He went to work to support his family.”
But for the last year, Murray, who is white, harassed Antonio Robinson, constantly yelling racial slurs at the Black man, according to the family. Murray also sometimes kicked toys that belonged to the children of Robinson’s girlfriend that were left on a sidewalk, she said.
“When our door was open, you could hear him (Murray) yelling at us,” said Ashley Lacy, Robinson’s girlfriend, as she fought back tears. “It got to the point that we just kept the door closed.”
The warrant written by Fort Worth Detective K.M. Bickley and interviews with Robinson family members provided this account of the shooting:
Lacy and Robinson lived in the 3800 block of Waldorf Street along with three children ages 9, 3 and 2. Robinson was the father to the youngest one.
Within the last year, Murray moved in the duplex and became a thorn in the neighborhood, Lacy said.
“We had issues with him from day one,” Lacy said. “It was always these little things such as yelling at us. He wouldn’t step in our house, but if our door was open, he would scream at us.”
Lacy said Murray repeatedly used racial slurs when he saw Robinson or his family.
But at least one time, Robinson came to Murray’s aid when the 54-year-old was being beaten up in the neighborhood, Lacy said.
“He (Antonio) got them to stop beating on him,” Lacy said as she sobbed. “And now Eddie turns around and does this. Antonio had done nothing to him.”
At about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Murray walked by Lacy and Robinson’s home and made the comment, “Got this (expletive) in front of my door, stupid Black (expletives,)” according to the warrant.
Minutes later, Murray returned and continuously banged on Robinson’s front door until the Fort Worth man stepped outside, and said, “What the (expletive), Eddie!” the warrant stated. Lacy followed her boyfriend outside.
Within seconds, Murray pulled out a silver revolver and opened fire. Lacy believed Murray was about to shoot her, so she went back inside of the residence.
Murray left the scene, while Lacy went back outside to give Robinson aid. While she was outside, Lacy said she saw Murray exit his duplex and he again pointed the gun at her, according to the warrant.
Murray’s boyfriend yelled at him to leave and they got into Murray’s truck and drove away.
Lacy said she begged Murray’s boyfriend to call police but he ignored her and made no attempts to render aid, according to the warrant.
At some point, Lacy got towels for Robinson’s gunshot wounds, but she had to ask her 9-year-old son to hold them on the wounds while she talked to the dispatcher.
“A 9-year-old shouldn’t have to be doing that,” Lacy said as she cried.
When they arrived shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Fort Worth police found Robinson with gunshot wounds to his chest. He was found lying outside of his home, according to the police report.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:16 p.m. Sunday, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s website.
Members of Robinson’s family said they were shocked that Murray had a bond because he was a felon with a weapon and he fled the scene.
Murray was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in Texas, according the Texas Department of Public Safety. The victim was a 9-year-old girl.
He must register as a sex offender for life, according to DPS records.
“If the tables were turned and a Black man with the same record had committed this crime against a white man and fled the scene, he would undoubtedly be completely denied bail,” said Monique Robinson. “This is a travesty of justice.”
Earlier this week, Lacy said she moved her children out of their home on Waldorf Street in Fort Worth, fearing that Murray could get out on bail and return to the neighborhood.
On Thursday, Lacy remained heartbroken.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Lacy said referring to her boyfriend as the tears continue to fall. “We tried moving away but COVID stopped all that. Now it’s too late.”
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 12:45 PM.
