Austin police say two men are now facing charges in the killing of Caldwell County Precinct 3 Deputy Constable Aaron Armstrong, who was shot early Sunday morning while working off-duty security at a north Austin nightclub.
According to police, the shooting happened just after 2 a.m. outside Club Rodeo at 9515 North Lamar Boulevard. Officers responding to a 911 call found Armstrong in the parking lot suffering from traumatic injuries.
He was taken to Dell Seton Hospital, where he later died.
Armstrong was wearing a body camera, and homicide detectives reviewed the footage as part of the case. Police described a sequence that began inside the club when security staff had an altercation with a patron. Armstrong escorted the man outside and attempted to de-escalate the situation, even after the man reportedly pushed or pulled away.
Police say Armstrong identified himself as law enforcement and warned the man he would be arrested, but the situation escalated in the parking lot. Authorities allege several people got between the deputy and the suspect as the deputy tried to take him into custody. Police say a handgun was produced, and Armstrong was shot. They also say Armstrong returned fire before collapsing.
The suspect, 38-year-old Thomas Vences, is charged with multiple offenses, including capital murder of a peace officer. Police say Vences was arrested later Sunday by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and later admitted involvement in the shooting during an interview after being taken into custody on an unrelated felony matter.
A second suspect, 22-year-old Ronaldo E. Colindres Simon, was also arrested. Police allege he drove the getaway vehicle and, while fleeing, ran over part of Armstrong’s body. He is charged with assault on a peace officer.
Vences has a lengthy criminal history in Travis County dating back to 2005. Austin’s police chief said the department intends to increase its presence in the area and pursue a comprehensive strategy tied to safety concerns at the club.
Training Tips from Travis Yates
Training tips are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Off-duty work still requires on-duty tactics. Clear communications, positioning, and immediate access to cover matter even in familiar venues.
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Expect the weapon to appear late. Many assaults happen at the moment control is being established, not at first contact.
- Research indicates that de-escalation is an escalation when encountering non-compliant, violent individuals. The two most common pre-attack indicators occur when officers encounter an amplified incident (information that requires a higher tactical presence) and that amplification is accompanied by non-compliance. The proper de-escalation tactic in such situations is immediate handcuffing. Read this article for additional details.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
