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Two Arrested, One Charged With Capital Murder in Killing of Off-Duty Deputy Outside Austin Club

Investigators built the case from body-camera video plus witness statements.

Overview

  • Police identified the victim as Deputy Constable Aaron Armstrong of Caldwell County Precinct 3, who was shot outside Club Rodeo on North Lamar around 2:09 a.m. on Jan. 4 and later died at Dell Seton Medical Center.
  • Thomas Vences, 38, was arrested the same day and charged with capital murder of a peace officer, with additional unrelated felony and misdemeanor counts listed in Travis County Jail records.
  • Ronaldo Ernesto Colindres-Simon, 22, was charged with assault on a peace officer and is being held at the Travis County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
  • The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, with APD Air Support, K-9 units and the Texas Department of Public Safety, apprehended a suspect at 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 4.
  • Authorities say Armstrong was working off-duty security when a confrontation moved to the parking lot, the suspect opened fire, the deputy returned fire before collapsing, and the getaway driver ran over one of Armstrong’s extremities while fleeing; police also announced a public tip line with a reward offer and a broader safety review of the North Lamar area.