Carlos Perez, 19, was fatally shot on December 21, 2024, while working at the AutoZone on Birnham Woods Drive in Spring, Texas. The shooting happened about 9:50 a.m. when a suspect entered the store and shot Perez multiple times before fleeing on foot; no customers were inside at the time though someone was in the parking lot.

Law enforcement apprehended 19-year-old William Gabriel Aguilar a short distance from the scene. Aguilar has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $750,000 bond. Authorities say the motive is unclear and investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting.

Perez graduated from York and Grand Oaks High School and had plans for a career in the automotive industry, including becoming an engineer and starting a car washing business. A memorial was set up outside the AutoZone and a vigil was held as the community mourned. If anyone has information about the incident, contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.