Capital Murder Suspect Takes 15 Year Plea Deal

SAN ANGELO, TX -- A 61-year-old San Angelo Woman charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer took a plea deal Wednesday.  

Brenda Wright was accused in the arrest affidavits of the Wrights released by the Justice of the Peace to local media, Texas Ranger Philip Kemp explained how, on Jan. 13, 2017, SAPD Criminal Investigations Sgt. Lucien (Doug) Thomas contacted him in regards to an officer-involved shooting in the 1200 block of E. 21st St.

"In addition to the shooting, a structure fire had been started by the occupants of the residence," said Kemp in the affidavit.

At the scene, Kemp contacted Texas Ranger J. Nick Hanna, SAPD Sgt. Thomas, and SAPD Detectives Adrian Castro and K.L. Dye. They all responded to the residence based on the 911 call placed by Gary Wright.

"Upon arrival, officers encountered an individual armed with a rifle located near the front of the residence," said the affidavit. "At the time, the armed individual was observed interacting with a female subject located at or near the front of the residence."

Despite repeated verbal commands to drop the weapon, Wright failed to comply and pointed the rifle in a threatening manner at SAPD officers.

"San Angelo Police responded to the deadly threat with deadly force and neutralized the armed individual, subsequently identified as Gary Ray Wright," said the affidavit. "Gary Wright was transported to Shannon Hospital, as was the female subject, identified as Brenda Joyce Wright."

At the residence, Ranger Kemp met with San Angelo Fire Marshal Ross Coleman, who located eight glass jars filled with gasoline.

"Also in the glass jars were either syringe needles or screws," said the affidavit. "Also inside the residence were several aerosol canisters placed throughout the residence, which exploded during the fire."

After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, Ranger Kemp located a shotgun loaded with rifled slugs and several rounds of ammunition of the same caliber as the rifle used by Gary Wright.

During an interview with Ranger Hanna and Detective Castro, Brenda Wright explained how she and her husband had become frustrated with life.

"The couple was dissatisfied over how a recent traffic accident had been investigated by the San Angelo Police Department," noted the affidavit. "The couple viewed this as the 'last straw,' and decided to put into motion a plan the couple had been planning for several weeks."