ALMA, AR – A 27-year-old Arkansas man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of killing his biological father and another man in what authorities described as two calculated shootings stemming from his belief that the victims were somehow involved in his mother’s death.
Crawford County Circuit Judge Marc R. McCune sentenced Cooper Wesley on Monday to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the November 2023 murders of 57-year-old Terry Brasuell, Wesley’s father, and 47-year-old Donald Lewis, both residents of Alma.
The jury, after a three-day trial, returned guilty verdicts on two counts of capital murder following just 17 minutes of deliberation, according to court records. Prosecutors presented evidence that Wesley meticulously planned the attacks, which included purchasing a black “Punisher” T-shirt—a reference to the comic book vigilante—on the morning of the shooting spree.
Investigators said Wesley took narcotics, believed to be methamphetamine, prior to the murders. He then stole two guns from his father’s home before leaving to purchase new clothing for what he later called his “mission.” Authorities said Wesley initially confronted Brasuell at a home on Chitwood Street, shooting him twice, with one shot to the back of the head.
Testimony revealed that Wesley told police he had “business” with his father, after which multiple witnesses identified him as the shooter. Despite being Brasuell’s biological son, Wesley had been raised by his aunt and uncle, a detail brought up during the proceedings.
Just hours after killing his father, investigators said Wesley drove to Lewis’s trailer on Muscadine Lane, where he shot Lewis in the head. Wesley was apprehended within an hour of the second shooting, with both firearms still inside the pickup truck he had been driving.
Authorities said Wesley admitted to the murders during questioning, providing detailed accounts of the shootings and stating he had bought clothes that morning specifically for the attacks. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wesley showed no remorse and described the killings as having “handled business.”
Prosecutors contended throughout the trial that Wesley was fixated on revenge, targeting the men based solely on unfounded suspicions about his mother’s death. There was no evidence linking either victim to any involvement in her passing.
Following Wesley’s conviction, local officials acknowledged the efforts of law enforcement and community members whose cooperation and testimony were instrumental in the swift resolution of the case. The Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office expressed hope that the verdict would offer some measure of closure to the families affected by the tragedy.
Authorities said the investigation and prosecution involved close coordination between the Alma Police Department, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, and other local agencies. The case also relied on forensic analysis from the Arkansas State Crime Lab and statements from citizens who came forward with critical evidence.
Wesley remains in custody at the Crawford County Detention Center, beginning a life sentence without the possibility of release.