FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for a shooting in Fort Walton Beach that killed a co-worker and wounded another, said the State Attorney’s Office.
An Okaloosa County jury found Ledesma Wooden, 29, of Houston, guilty of attempted first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree premeditated murder, and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, the State Attorney’s Office announced on February 9.
Mr. Wooden was sentenced to mandatory life in prison.
The charges stemmed from an October 31, 2018, incident at the former Greyhound Bus Station. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Wooden was terminated from a company assisting with debris removal due to Hurricane Michael. Mr. Wooden reportedly argued with his former supervisor about the company refusing to pay the fare for Wooden to return to Texas.
Wooden reportedly retrieved a firearm from his luggage and began shooting at his former supervisor, who escaped injury. Wooden is said to have shot another member of the work crew in the leg and shot and killed the driver of the work van, Aija Rae Hunter, 24, of Houston.
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department investigated the case, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest of Mr Wooden. The case was prosecuted on behalf of State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden by Assistant State Attorney Michelle Sandler.
