Robert Joseph Baker, 39, shot and killed a stranger outside the Market Street at 19th and Quaker in 2020, fired off more rounds at a gas station, then shot his own car at Covenant before trying to check himself in for COVID-19 symptoms. His lawyer later argued he was hallucinating from hypoxia brought on by the virus. Because apparently “I had COVID” is now an all-purpose legal defense.
Back in March, Baker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter. But this week, a judge hit the undo button, suspended that sentence, and gave him 10 years of probation instead. The reasoning? He’s a first-time offender, and apparently, prison isn’t as good for him as “community-based rehabilitative programs.”
Meanwhile, Jason Holloway—the 44-year-old who Baker gunned down while he was loading groceries—doesn’t get a second chance. His family called the killing senseless, pointing out that Holloway worked 60-hour weeks to support them. But hey, at least Baker can work on his breathing exercises outside of prison walls.
Only in Lubbock can you shoot a stranger in a grocery store parking lot, blame COVID, and walk away with probation. Should we start masking up again—or just wearing bulletproof vests to Market Street?
