A Houston-area man is facing an aggravated assault charge after court documents allege he yelled racial slurs at a teenager riding a bicycle, punched the teen in the face, and struck both the teenager and the bike before driving off from a gas station near Dobie High School on Tuesday afternoon.
The confrontation happened at a Shell gas station parking lot near the southeast Houston high school, according to ABC13. The teenager had been riding a bicycle near Brandon Fowler at the station when the alleged attack unfolded. Witnesses told reporters they saw the incident happen at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Court records allege that Fowler yelled racial slurs at the teenager before punching him in the face and striking both the teen and his bicycle. According to court documents, Fowler then left the scene. Authorities said the teenager was not seriously hurt in the incident.
Texas also has a legal process for finding that an offense was motivated by bias or prejudice. In a case covered by the law, a judge or jury must determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally selected the victim because of bias against a listed group, including one defined by race; for eligible offenses, that finding can raise the punishment by one category. The alleged slurs do not by themselves establish such a finding, and the account of the charge does not say one has been sought. The trial finding is governed by Texas law, while a separate statute sets out the potential punishment increase.
Texas law defines aggravated assault as an assault that causes serious bodily injury or involves the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon; the offense is generally a second-degree felony. Because those are separate statutory routes, the charge alone does not establish that the teenager suffered serious injuries. The account of the case does not specify which route prosecutors allege. The Texas statute sets out both elements and the offense level.
Tesla Footage Pointed Investigators to a Suspect
Investigators said video recorded by a witness’s Tesla helped identify the driver involved, and deputies were able to track down Fowler quickly afterward. The footage appears to have played a central role in building the aggravated assault case that now has Fowler in custody.
According to court records, Fowler is being held in the Harris County Jail. Records show he has had various law-enforcement encounters over nearly 30 years, including what the documents describe as assault- and drug-related charges, though the evidence reviewed does not establish whether any of those prior cases resulted in convictions.
What Remains Unknown
Several details of the case have not been made public. The teenager’s identity, age, and any connection to Dobie High School beyond the incident’s proximity to the campus have not been disclosed. It is also not yet known whether Fowler has an attorney, entered a plea, or has an upcoming court date, and the full charging instrument has not been independently reviewed.
