Taymour Makarem, 20, was found guilty of murder by a Tarrant County jury today and sentenced to 75 years in prison for killing a 17-year-old at a QuikTrip on Little Road in Arlington. Prosecutors told jurors that Makarem fired seven shots at nearly point-blank range during an argument on July 16, 2023, before fleeing the scene and being arrested nearby. The verdict brings to an end what prosecutors have described as a violent rivalry between the two young men that lasted months.
In a post on X, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office announced the guilty verdict and 75-year sentence and wrote, “Special thanks to Detective Julia Hall and the Arlington Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe,” as posted by the Tarrant County DA. Court records and the county’s trial calendar list Assistant District Attorneys Madeline Jones and Melinda Hogan as the prosecutors on the case and identified
The homicide report from the Arlington Police Departmente responded about 8:17 p.m. on July 16, 2023, and discovered a 17-year-old guy inside a car at the QuikTrip with several gunshot wounds. According to The Dallas Morning News, investigators evaluating security footage and witness testimony believe Makarem fought with the victim before pulling out a pistol and shooting multiple bullets into the vehicle.
Prosecutors informed jurors that the evidence indicated Makarem fired seven rounds at nearly point-blank range, subsequently concealed the firearm, and made false statements about his whereabouts before being apprehended nearby. The case was tried in the 485th District Court and was on the county’s March trial calendar as a “Jury Out” case prior to the verdict, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office eventually identified the victim as 17-year-old Brad Gruver; after the July 2023 killing, family members publicly sought witnesses, according to The Dallas Morning News. Prosecutors and municipal officials commended detectives and witnesses for their cooperation in building the case.
Makarem will be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to serve the 75-year term, and he has the ability to appeal his conviction. Officials explained that the high sentence reflects both the gravity of the offense and the evidence presented at trial.
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