An 18-year-old Fort Worth man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for his role in the robbery and fatal shooting of a Southwest High School honor student.

After the verdict was read the defendant, Broderick Patterson, erupted in anger, cursing at the prosecutors, the jury and the news media.

“Fu— all ya’ll!” he said as bailiffs escorted him from the courtroom. “Fu— the state, Fu—the jury, Fu— the news!”

Jurors deliberated about six hours on Thursday and Friday in assessing Patterson’s punishment for his involvement in the death of Eric Forrester, who was gunned down in his Fort Worth home just weeks before his high school graduation.

Patterson, who pled guilty to murder before the trial, must serve 30 years before he is eligible for parole.

During the trial in state district Judge Robb Catalano’s court, prosecutors Robert Huseman and Christy Jack presented evidence that on April 12, 2010, Forrester and his older sister came home for lunch and heard a noise upstairs. They went to investigate and discovered Patterson and his accomplice, Clifton Elliott, burglarizing their home.

As the sister ran out of the house for help, Forrester was fatally shot in the back of the head by one of the intruders.

The killing was captured on a 911 tape. Forester had dialed 911 and put the phone in his pocket when he and his sister went to investigate the noise.

Forrester was taken to an area hospital but it was too late. His family followed his wish to donate his organs.

During the punishment phase of the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Patterson had previously been arrested for three felonies, including burglarizing a house, snatching a woman’s purse at a grocery store, and assaulting a special needs student at Southwest High School.

He was on probation for the burglary at the time of Forrester’s slaying. Patterson and Elliott were both 16 at the time of the killing but were certified to stand trial as adults.

Elliott remains in custody awaiting his trial.

Melody McDonald

Public Information Officer

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office

401 West Belknap

Fort Worth, TX 76196

817-884-3120 (direct)

817-821-3935 (cell)

mjmcdonald@tarrantcounty.com

 Twitter: @TarrantDAOffice