Texan Executed for Double Murder in 1985
A man who shot his former girlfriend and a companion to death in a jealous rage in 1985 was executed Thursday.
Michael Lee McBride, 38, was convicted of gunning down two 18-year-olds from Fort Worth, former girlfriend Christian Fisher and James Holzer. He insisted the shootings were in the heat of passion and did not amount to capital murder.
“God bless all of you,” he said before his execution.
McBride, a bartender in a Lubbock country club, dated Fisher for about 11 months before she broke up with him. He lured the Texas Tech student to his house under the pretense of giving her a painting he said was equal to money he owed her. He concluded the conversation by saying: “If I can’t have you, nobody will.”
Her friends worried about her and accompanied her in two cars to McBride’s home. Holzer was with Fisher.
She knocked on the door but got no answer. As she was returning to her car, McBride emerged wearing camouflage clothing and carrying a semiautomatic rifle. He shot Fisher at least 10 times and Holzer nine times.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
