Capital murder trial moves forward for man accused of killing Stripes clerk

Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·1 min read

The capital murder trial for the man accused of gunning down Stripes clerk Floyd Morrell Kirt moved forward Tuesday in 30th District Court.

Tajmon Laterrance Robinson is suspected of shooting Kirt, 51, on Feb. 12, 2022, while robbing a Stripes in the 2200 block of Southwest Parkway, according to allegations in court documents.

On Tuesday, a jury was selected, and opening arguments were presented. In addition, the first witness for the prosecution testified. The trial is expected to resume Wednesday morning before 30th District Judge Jeff McKnight.

An impromptu memorial for Floyd Morrell Kirt, 51, was placed outside the Stripes convenience store on Southwest Parkway as shown in this Feb. 15, 2022, file photo. Police say Kirt was shot and killed on the morning of Feb. 12, 2022, during a robbery in the store.
An impromptu memorial for Floyd Morrell Kirt, 51, was placed outside the Stripes convenience store on Southwest Parkway as shown in this Feb. 15, 2022, file photo. Police say Kirt was shot and killed on the morning of Feb. 12, 2022, during a robbery in the store.

If convicted, Robinson, 23, faces up to life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.

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He was being held Tuesday in the Wichita County Detention Center on a $1 million bond, according to online jail records.

Police responded to a check welfare request about 5 a.m. Feb. 12, 2022, and found Kirt shot to death, according to allegations in a police affidavit.

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Robinson later told Wichita Falls police he killed Kirt while robbing lottery tickets from the store, according to allegations.  He told police his plan was to rob a convenience store to get enough money to get out of Wichita Falls.

Police obtained video footage from the store, according to allegations. The video showed a man enter the Stripes, shoot Kirt and taking things before leaving through the back door, according to allegations in court records.

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Murder trial moves forward for man accused of killing Stripes clerk