Darla Murrell, a 66-year-old White woman, was the co-owner of Thermal Polymer Systems in Angleton, Texas, a business she and her husband, Donnie, had opened 30 years earlier. Her 37-year-old son, Devin "Chase" Murrell, also worked at the family company.
On the morning of February 12, 2024, a man opened fire inside the industrial facility, located in the 900 block of South Velasco Street. The shooting occurred around 8:20 a.m., and both Darla and Devin Murrell were struck. Emergency responders airlifted them to a hospital in Houston for urgent care, but both mother and son succumbed to their gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead.
The shooter, identified by police as 35-year-old Bradley Jones, fled the scene in a 2015 silver Chevrolet Silverado. A collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies led to his swift apprehension. Jones was located near Surfside Beach and arrested without incident at County Beach.
He was then taken into custody at the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office. Investigators noted that Jones's wife was a former employee at Thermal Polymer, but a specific motive for the killings was never publicly released.
Bradley Jones was initially charged with two counts of murder. The case proceeded to trial, where he was convicted on two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Darla and Devin Murrell. Following the conviction, he was sentenced to life in prison.
After the trial, grieving family members delivered powerful victim impact statements. Addressing Jones in court, Darla's husband, Donnie Murrell, said, "I have no forgiveness for you! I will never have the love of my life back." Devin's wife, Maggie, also submitted a written statement about the deep and lasting scars the event left on her soul. The case is now considered closed.
