Crowley ISD JROTC instructor told son to 'stop playing with that gun' before being shot, witnesses say

Crowley JROTC instructor allegedly killed by adult son

Witnesses say Master Sergeant Gene Bass told his son to "stop playing with that gun before you shoot someone." The 27-year-old then opened fire, killing his father.

FORT WORTH, Texas - A Crowley ISD JROTC instructor told his son to stop playing with a gun before he was shot multiple times, according to an arrest affidavit.

54-year-old Master Sergeant Gene Bass was shot and killed in front of his home last Friday on Chesapeake Bay Drive in south Fort Worth.

His son, 27-year-old Xavier Bass, was arrested in Georgia on Saturday.

Police investigators spoke to witnesses who told them Xavier got out of a black Mustang and approached his father while tossing a small handgun in the air.

According to the affidavit, Gene told his son something to the effect of "Boy, stop playing with that gun before you shoot someone."

Xavier then shot five to six times, hitting his father multiple times before jumping into the Mustang and driving off, according to witnesses.

Gene was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gene Bass

While contacting family members, Gene's ex-wife told Fort Worth police investigators that Xavier drove a black Mustang.

Court documents say a woman who knew Xavier in Georgia says he told her weeks before the shooting.

"Xavier broke down and told her he needed to drive to Texas, and that she would find out why when she saw it on the news," the arrest affidavit said.

The woman says she was able to calm Xavier down and prevent him from going to Texas.

Investigators say she was present when Xavier Facetimed his father to say he was going to come to Texas.

The woman said Xavier blamed his father: "He felt his dad could have made things better and not left him with his mom to struggle."

Crowley ISD JROTC instructor killed by son, police say

A Georgia man is accused of driving to Fort Worth and killing his father. The man who was killed was a Junior ROTC instructor at North Crowley High School.

On the day before the shooting, Xavier allegedly told the woman, "He was going to drive to see his mom, sell his Mustang and check himself into a mental hospital."

She and others attempted to call Xavier on the day of the shooting, but he never answered.

She also confirmed that Xavier was the suspect seen on surveillance video, according to police.

Xavier was arrested in Valdosta, Georgia, more than 900 miles away from the home in south Fort Worth. He is currently in the Lowndes County jail.