Houston, Texas – A Houston man has been handed a life sentence following a tragic shooting incident that resulted in the death of one co-worker and injuries to another. The State Attorney’s Office has confirmed the sentencing, marking the conclusion of a case that has drawn considerable attention.
A Fatal Dispute Leads to Life Imprisonment
Ledesma Wooden, a 29-year-old from Houston, was convicted by an Okaloosa County jury of several charges, including attempted first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree premeditated murder, and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. The conviction relates to an incident on October 31, 2018, at the former Greyhound Bus Station in Fort Walton Beach.
The incident unfolded after Wooden was terminated from his position at a company involved in debris removal in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The State Attorney’s Office reported that Wooden engaged in an argument with his former supervisor over the company’s refusal to cover his travel expenses back to Texas. In a violent escalation of the dispute, Wooden retrieved a firearm from his luggage and opened fire. While his former supervisor managed to escape unharmed, another work crew member was shot in the leg, and Aija Rae Hunter, a 24-year-old driver from Houston, was fatally shot.
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department led the investigation into the shooting, with assistance from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in apprehending Wooden. Assistant State Attorney Michelle Sandler represented the State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden in the prosecution of the case, culminating in Wooden’s sentencing to mandatory life in prison. This sentence underscores the gravity of Wooden’s actions and the tragic loss of life resulting from the dispute.