Baytown, Texas police believe 31-year-old Ty Vaughn shot his fiancé, 27-year-old Luis Banos, in the head with a rifle and tried to stage the scene as a suicide. Before the slaying, Vaughn allegedly searched for the legal ramifications of “killing an illegal immigrant” according to court records.
Vaughn called the police on Jan. 14 and claimed he had found his fiancé dead from a gunshot wound. However, during the investigation, Vaughn’s story changed and he provided inconsistent statements leading police to determine that Banos’ cause of death was a homicide by gunshot to the head.
Vaughn appeared in court on Monday and was given a $500,000 bond. He is an Army veteran who worked at an industrial company in Houston. Investigators also found evidence suggesting that Vaughn had tampered with the crime scene to make Banos’ death appear as a suicide.
Harris County prosecutors have charged Vaughn with murder, and he is currently being held in custody. The motive for the killing remains unclear, but police believe Vaughn’s actions were premeditated based on his internet search history. Vaughan’s fiancé, Luis Banos, was tragically killed in their apartment, leading to Vaughn’s arrest in connection to the murder.
