Dallas, Texas — Marcus Fulbright, 25, didn’t just rob two convenience stores in one blood-cold October morning—he terrorized them. Armed with a semi-automatic handgun, Fulbright stormed into two 7-Eleven locations within 15 minutes, pointed his weapon at clerks, demanded cash, and in one instance, fired a live round at a civilian who tried to intervene. Today, he’s paying for it with 384 months behind federal bars.
U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle handed down the 32-year sentence after Fulbright pleaded guilty in April 2016 to two counts of using, carrying, or brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from the early hours of October 9, 2013, when Fulbright targeted the 7-Eleven at 757 E. Beltline Road in DeSoto, Texas, at approximately 4:15 a.m. He walked in, flashed the gun, leveled it at the clerk, and walked out with cash in hand.
But he wasn’t done. Just minutes later, at 4:30 a.m., Fulbright entered another 7-Eleven—this one at 640 Pleasant Run in Lancaster, Texas—with the same violent intent. Again, he pulled the handgun, aimed at the clerk, and demanded money. This time, someone in the store refused to stand by. A customer lunged at Fulbright, forcing the gunman to redirect his weapon and fire a single shot. Miraculously, the round missed.
No money amount was disclosed in court filings, but the psychological toll on clerks and bystanders was immeasurable. Surveillance footage from both stores captured the chilling sequence of events—Fulbright moving with cold precision, mask partially covering his face, weapon drawn before either clerk could react. The FBI, along with local police from Dallas, DeSoto, and Lancaster, worked in tandem to identify and apprehend him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Wirmani prosecuted the case with a focus on Fulbright’s reckless use of a firearm in violent crimes—triggering mandatory minimums under federal law. The 384-month sentence reflects the severity of discharging a firearm during a robbery, a charge that dramatically escalates penalties.
Fulbright, a Dallas native with no prior federal convictions, now faces more than three decades in prison. His actions in those 15 minutes across two cities left lasting scars. For the civilians who showed up for overnight shifts, it was a waking nightmare. For the justice system, it was a textbook case of federal intervention in local violent crime.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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