Houston police say a viral Instagram video shows a uniformed security guard opening fire after confronting two people inside a vacant Crowne Plaza hotel off the Southwest Freeway. The pair bolt from the building with their hands up; charging records say one of the victims later told investigators she was so scared she urinated on herself.
Confrontation Caught on Video
The reel, posted to an urban exploration Instagram account, shows a man in a security uniform ordering the pair to “show me your hands” and then saying, “I’m a private investigator and police officer,” before a gunshot cracks from inside the building. Another shot can be heard as the couple runs toward the freeway, and the clip has since made the rounds across social media. You can watch the footage on Instagram.
Police Name the Guard and File Charges
Houston police investigators say they used the video to identify the man as Carlos Campos Carrillo. Charging records show he is now accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and impersonating a public servant, according to Click2Houston.
Guard’s Online Warnings and a Prior Case
The account that shared the video says the guard had already warned would-be explorers to stay away from the shuttered hotel. “He actually was commenting on urban explorers’ videos saying, ‘Hey, don’t enter this property anymore. I am security and I’m armed,’” Eli told Click2Houston.
Houston police also say Carrillo was arrested days earlier after allegedly firing multiple rounds at other trespassers at the same hotel. That case was later dismissed when prosecutors said it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
How Texas Law Treats the Alleged Crimes
Under Texas law, an assault that involves a deadly weapon can be elevated to aggravated assault, generally treated as a second degree felony, while impersonating a public servant is a separate crime with its own penalties. The statutory language is detailed in Justia for Texas Penal Code §22.02 and in Texas Public Law for Texas Penal Code §37.11.
Why Houston Officials Are Paying Attention
Urban exploring has turned into a social media pastime, but law enforcement and property owners keep pointing out that slipping into fenced or clearly posted private sites can turn a “cool abandoned spot” into a criminal trespass charge, not to mention a brush with collapsing floors or armed security. Local officials urge would-be explorers to get permission or stay away from boarded properties entirely. Investigators say the case involving the vacant Crowne Plaza remains under active review, with more developments possible.
