Crime
19-year-old Carlos Perez killed in AutoZone shooting, suspect William Aguilar in custody
Aguilar is currently being held at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Jail with bond set at $750,000.
Montgomery County, TX – A tragic shooting unfolded on Saturday morning at an AutoZone in Montgomery County, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old employee.
Authorities have arrested and charged 19-year-old William Gabriel Aguilar with first-degree murder in connection with the incident.
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. at the AutoZone located in the 28800 block of Birnham Woods Drive.
According to investigators, Aguilar entered the store and fatally shot an employee, later identified as 19-year-old Carlos Perez. Reports indicate that Perez was shot multiple times, and responding constables found him deceased inside the store.
Authorities confirmed that no customers were inside the store at the time of the incident, although one individual was present in the parking lot when the shooting took place.
Aguilar fled the scene on foot, running through nearby fences and residential streets before being apprehended a short distance away without further incident.
The violence occurred near a daycare center, which was closed at the time, and the World Champion Center, a nearby gymnastics facility that was crowded with children practicing.
Constables expressed relief that no additional injuries occurred but emphasized the devastating nature of the crime. A chaplain from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was present to provide counseling to AutoZone employees affected by the tragedy.
Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable Captain Adam Acosta expressed deep sorrow over the incident, especially given the timing during the holiday season.
“Christmas time is about family. It’s about trying to be together and celebrate, and when something like this happens, it’s very upsetting,” Captain Acosta stated.
South Montgomery County Fire and Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) personnel responded to the scene. Perez’s body has been transported to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for an autopsy.
Precinct 3 detectives, with assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit and the District Attorney’s Office, are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Aguilar is currently being held at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Jail with bond set at $750,000.
Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive for the shooting. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office or the Precinct 3 Constable’s Office.
Crime
Indiana Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening to Assassinate President Trump in TikTok Videos
A 23-year-old Indiana man has been arrested and charged with making threats against former President Donald Trump after allegedly posting multiple threatening videos on TikTok, federal authorities announced Thursday.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI, Douglas Thrams posted a series of videos between Monday—when Trump was inaugurated—and Wednesday, in which he allegedly threatened anti-government violence and called for the assassination of the former president.
In one of the videos cited in the complaint, Thrams reportedly stated, “Every U.S. government building needs to be bombed immediately.” He further escalated his rhetoric by saying, “He [Trump] needs to be assassinated, and this time, don’t… miss,” using explicit language.
Authorities noted that Thrams’ statements were particularly concerning in light of previous assassination attempts targeting Trump, including an incident last year at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former president sustained a minor injury to his ear.
Additionally, an FBI affidavit revealed that in another video, Thrams was seen holding a rifle and tapping it, an action investigators interpreted as an implied threat.
Thrams was taken into custody on Thursday and has been charged with “interstate communications with a threat to injure,” a federal offense.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not disclosed any further potential threats. Thrams is expected to appear in federal court in the coming days.