Roberts sentenced to 90 years in prison for 2023 murder of Christopher Wright

Nearly 50 family and friends of Chris Wright attending the sentencing hearing of his murderer, Darryl Roberts, all wearing a red button in memory.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The man convicted of second degree murder in the 2023 shooting death of a Baylor alum in downtown Chattanooga learned his sentence Monday.

Nearly 50 family and friends showed up to Hamilton County Judge Boyd Patterson’s courtroom on Monday to demonstrate just how much Christopher Wright meant to them, whether as a family member, as a friend or as a community member.

They say that Wright deserves to be remembered as much more than as the victim who was killed in front of Patton Towers in September 2023.

They also did not mince their feelings about Darryl Roberts, the man who took the prominent businessman away from them.

Chris Wright’s mother, Janet Wright, told Roberts, “You said that it was a dangerous place. You. made it dangerous. You’re the one that had the gun.”

Wil Trohanis, one of Chris Wright’s best friends, told Roberts, “You’re a habitual thief. You steal not only things, you are a thief of joy. A thief of memories, a thief of happiness, and a thief of life.”

Mike Hayes, who was a classmate and football teammate of Wright at Baylor School, added that Roberts he had plenty of chances to make a different decision.

Hayes told Roberts, “You had 30 feet, 11 steps, and in those 11 steps that covered 30 feet you made this decision that changed everything.”

Roberts, who testified during his trial that Wright called him a racial slur in front of Patten Towers, did say he felt sorry for Wright’s family and that he was praying for them.

No other witness in the trial testified that Wright used such language, and Hayes, who is African-American himself, said that Wright never made him feel awkward or uncomfortable while attending school together.

However, Roberts was defensive of his character when given the chance to speak, equating himself to Moses and David from the Bible.

Roberts bizarrely said, “I got a tattoo of Batman. There ain’t no way I’m an evil person with a tattoo of Batman on my arm.”

Judge Patterson was not swayed by his character defense, and sentenced Roberts to a maximum sentence of 90 years for both the second degree murder and firearm charges.

The judge told Roberts, “I don’t remember Moses or David sipping a drink outside of their house and initiate contact with someone for seemingly no reason.”

Those who spoke in favor of Wright say that he was humble and aspirational.

His business partner and friend Benjamin Brown said, “Chris was the highest measure of a man I’ve ever met in my life,” and said the accusations by Roberts were absurd and disgraceful.

Hayes added, “He always had that faith in you, often more than you had in yourself.”

Ultimately, the greatest tragedy those who grieve him say is the trauma caused for Wright’s three young children left behind by that gunshot on Market Street.

Janet Wright said, “They don’t have him to hug and giggle, and he’d always read a story to them and tucked them into bed and said their prayers. So the true tragedy is my three grandchildren who have to grow up without their awesome dad.”

Wright was 38 years old and was survived by a wife and three children.