Vernelle Wright Obituary, Death; Police: Man fatally shot at North Texas football watch party.

Vernelle Wright Obituary, Death – Police in Little Elm are investigating a deadly shooting that took place during a football watch party on Monday evening, leaving one man dead and another facing a murder charge.
According to the Little Elm Police Department, officers were dispatched around 9:04 p.m. to the 2300 block of Okeefe Drive in the Paloma Creek neighborhood after receiving reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found 40-year-old Vernelle Wright with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel rushed him to Baylor Scott & White Hospital, but despite life-saving efforts, Wright was pronounced dead at 9:49 p.m.
Investigators determined that the shooting started with an argument during a watch party. Police said tensions flared between Wright and another guest, 37-year-old Corey Green. The disagreement, which began inside, spilled outside onto the street. At that point, according to authorities, Green pulled out a firearm and shot Wright several times before fleeing the area.
As officers launched a search, Green remained on the run for several hours. However, just after midnight at 12:02 a.m., he returned and surrendered to police. He was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Denton County Jail on a charge of murder.
Authorities said the crime scene was immediately secured and processed with the help of multiple agencies, including the Denton County Crime Scene Unit and the Texas Rangers. Investigators executed search warrants at locations believed to be connected to the incident as part of their ongoing investigation.
The police department noted that the violence appeared to stem solely from the argument at the watch party, emphasizing that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Wright’s death marks a tragic end to what was expected to be a routine evening of friends gathering to watch football.
Officials have not provided additional details about what sparked the altercation between Wright and Green or whether the two men had prior conflicts. The investigation remains active as detectives continue piecing together the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
Community members in the Paloma Creek neighborhood expressed shock at the incident, describing it as unsettling for an otherwise quiet residential area. Authorities urged anyone with further information about the case to contact the Little Elm Police Department as they work to finalize their findings.
For now, Green remains behind bars at the Denton County Jail, awaiting his initial court proceedings. If convicted, he could face severe penalties for the murder charge. Meanwhile, Wright’s family and friends are left mourning the sudden loss of a loved one whose life ended during what should have been a simple social gathering.
The case serves as yet another reminder of how quickly heated disputes can escalate into violence, with devastating consequences. Police continue urging residents to seek nonviolent ways of resolving conflicts and to report suspicious or threatening behavior before it turns deadly.