The Austin community is grappling with the aftermath of a violent confrontation that resulted in the death of a Caldwell County deputy. On January 4, Austin Police Department officers were dispatched to a reported officer-involved shooting at 9515 N. Lamar Blvd. around 2:08 a.m. The victim, Deputy Aaron Armstrong, was found with serious injuries and later pronounced dead at a local hospital at 6:39 a.m., marking Austin's second homicide of the year.
According to an official statement from the Austin Police Department, Deputy Armstrong had been attempting to resolve a disturbance at Club Rodeo when he encountered Thomas Vences, who resisted arrest and managed to quickly flee the scene. Armstrong, later in the evening, spotted Vences still in the area, and when he tried once again to arrest him, Vences allegedly drew a gun and shot the deputy. An additional incident occurred in the chaos, with an associate of Vences, Rolando Colindres Simon, reportedly running over Armstrong's extremity while driving away from the nightclub.
Authorities moved swiftly to track down the suspects. The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force apprehended Vences, charging him with the capital murder of a peace officer. His associate, Colindres Simon, faces charges of assault on a peace officer. The Austin Police Department, along with homicide detectives and crime scene specialists, is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this fatal incident.
Community members with any information are encouraged to come forward and contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting their website or calling 512-472-8477. As the investigation unfolds, a reward of up to $1,000 may become available for information leading to any additional arrests. The fate of these two men, now sitting behind bars, remains to be seen as the judicial process steadily moves ahead.
