A tragic incident claimed the life of Caldwell County Deputy Constable Aaron Armstrong, who was shot and killed while working an off-duty security detail at an Austin nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, January 4, 2026. Deputy Armstrong was transported to Dell Seton Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
According to official reports from the Austin Police Department, the incident unfolded at approximately 2:00 a.m. at Club Rodeo on North Lamar Boulevard. Deputy Armstrong, who was in uniform and working a security job he had held for years, escorted a man from the club who was causing a disturbance.
The man, later identified as 38-year-old Thomas Vences, pushed the deputy and retreated to the parking lot, where he continued to shout and cause a scene with a group of people. When Deputy Armstrong warned Vences he could go to jail and attempted to place him under arrest, the group interfered, preventing the deputy from reaching the suspect.
It was then that Vences produced a handgun and fired multiple times at Deputy Armstrong. Despite being fatally wounded, Deputy Armstrong managed to return fire before collapsing. As the suspects fled the scene, one of the men in the group, 22-year-old Ronaldo Ernesto Colindres-Simon, put his vehicle in reverse and ran over Deputy Armstrong’s arm, causing a significant injury. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis later characterized the killing as an execution, stating, “He was murdered, he was executed in that parking lot of that club”.
A swift investigation by law enforcement led to the arrest of Thomas Vences on Sunday afternoon by the U.S. Marshals’ Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. Vences, who police confirmed has an extensive criminal history with approximately 30 prior charges including multiple felonies and was on probation at the time of the shooting, now faces a charge of capital murder of a peace officer. The driver, Ronaldo Ernesto Colindres-Simon, has been charged with assault on a peace officer for running over Deputy Armstrong.
The law enforcement community expressed profound grief over the loss. “It’s a very hard day, and we’re all absolutely heartbroken,” said Steve Ou, a sergeant with the Caldwell County Precinct Three Constable’s Office. Elected officials also offered condolences, with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz stating, “Heidi and I are heartbroken over the tragic loss of the brave Caldwell County deputy constable, Aaron Armstrong”.
Deputy Constable Aaron Armstrong had served with the Caldwell County Constable’s Office, Precinct 3, for over a year and had previously served with the Smithville Police Department. His death is a somber reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face, even while working off-duty to provide for their families and keep communities safe. The investigation into the shooting remains active, but the immediate arrest of the primary suspect provides a measure of justice for a deputy who was simply doing his job.