Brad Bettis, Nov. 4, 1974 – Dec. 21, 2014

by Jim Bainbridge | Dec 22, 2014

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Brad Bettis, a former bull rider and steer wrestler who transitioned to a career as a PRCA ProRodeo Official, died Dec. 21 of gunshot wounds following a confrontation in his hometown of Azle, Texas. He was 40.

According to a news release from the Azle Police Department, a 911 call was received from an address on South Steward Street at 5:54 p.m. on Sunday where two men were arguing.

“The disturbance escalated to the point where one of the men produced a handgun and shot the other several times,” interim Police Chief D.D. West wrote in a statement.

The victim was identified as Bettis on the Tarrant County medical examiner’s website on Monday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The assailant surrendered to police and an investigation is under way.

Bettis has served as a PRCA judge since 2007.

Courtesy of PRCA