The Brief
- A Denton County jury sentenced Arrion Keonta Morris to life in prison for the 2024 shooting death of 24-year-old Jonathon Michael Berto.
- The fatal shooting happened after a minor traffic accident; Morris shot Berto without warning while they were attempting to exchange insurance information.
- Morris pleaded guilty to the murder and confessed to hiding evidence, ultimately opting for a jury to determine his sentence over a rejected plea deal.
LEWISVILLE, Texas – A Denton County jury has sentenced a Mesquite man to life in prison for the 2024 shooting death of a motorist following a minor traffic accident, prosecutors announced Monday.
Arrion Keonta Morris received the maximum sentence for the murder of Jonathon Michael Berto, 24. The sentencing follows a trial in which Morris pleaded guilty to the killing but rejected a 40-year plea deal, opting instead to have a jury determine his punishment.
Deadly shooting after minor traffic crash
The backstory:
The incident happened on June 9, 2024, in the 1200 block of South Stemmons Freeway. According to Lewisville police, what started as a routine fender-bender turned violent when Morris and Berto pulled into a parking lot to exchange insurance information.…