He killed a 71-year-old man near a bingo hall. He’ll serve up to 50 years in prison
A man who shot a stranger to death outside a bingo hall in south Fort Worth pleaded guilty Monday to murder.
Kenyan Buchanan went through 71-year-old Roger Smith’s pockets and took his wallet after shooting him on Jan. 1, 2025. Smith had confronted Buchanan as Buchanan was burglarizing Smith’s truck.
Buchanan was indicted on a charge of capital murder. The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office alleged the killing occurred as Buchanan robbed Smith. Buchanan pleaded guilty in Criminal District Court No. 1 to the lesser offense in an agreement with the district attorney’s office.
The agreement called for Buchanan, who is 35, to be sentenced to 50 years in prison. He will become eligible for parole when he has served half of the sentence term.
Had Buchanan been found guilty of capital murder at trial, he would have been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The state waived the death penalty.
Buchanan shot Smith in the parking lot of the Bingo Plex on Crowley Road, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 4:52 PM.
