Gunfire shattered the late-afternoon calm on Walnut Street in Columbus on Friday when, according to police, 50-year-old Robert Jerome Axel opened fire at the Columbus Animal Clinic, sending one person to the hospital and triggering a fast-moving law enforcement response.
The shooting was reported around 5:04 p.m. at the busy clinic, where Columbus Police Department officers and Colorado County Sheriff’s Office deputies rushed to the scene after multiple 911 callers reported shots fired. Deputies ultimately used a TASER to subdue and arrest the suspect. Police say a nearby business owner also discharged a firearm during the chaos.
Arrest, Charges And Law Enforcement Response
Axel was taken into custody and booked into the Colorado County Jail on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Colorado County Citizen. Columbus Police Department Lt. Jose Lara told the outlet that officers and sheriff’s deputies converged on the animal clinic after multiple emergency calls came in reporting gunfire.
According to Lt. Lara, deputies deployed a TASER during the confrontation to bring Axel under control. The department stated that no law enforcement officers fired their weapons at any point in the incident.
What The Charges Mean
Under Texas law, an assault involving a deadly weapon typically bumps the offense up to aggravated assault, which is a felony in most situations. The Texas Penal Code section 22.02 spells out aggravated assault and states that it is generally a second-degree felony, though it can be charged as a first-degree felony in certain more serious circumstances.
How prosecutors ultimately choose to handle Axel’s case, and what penalties could be on the table, will depend on what investigators uncover and on decisions made by the district attorney and the courts as the case moves forward.
Evidence Collected And Victim’s Condition
Investigators recovered multiple shell casings at both the Columbus Animal Clinic and the neighboring Crunch N' Crab food truck, according to officials. Colorado County EMS transported the injured person to Columbus Community Hospital, where police reported the victim was listed in stable condition on Friday night.
In a news release quoted by the Colorado County Citizen, the Columbus Police Department said the nearby business owner's actions "stopped the suspect from advancing further into the targeted occupied business, preventing the suspect from reaching additional occupants inside." Authorities added that the investigation remains active and that more details could be released as evidence is processed.
Next Steps
Axel is being held at the Colorado County Jail while the case proceeds. He has not been convicted of any crime at this stage, and all persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
For official booking records, public information and law enforcement releases related to the case, the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office is the point of contact and handles open-records requests. Local reporters have indicated they will continue to track the case as it moves through the legal system.
