Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Murdering Friend in AutoZone Shooting in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – On November 3, 2025, 20-year-old William Gabriel Aguilar of Spring, TX, pled guilty to murder and received a 45-year sentence from Judge Phil Grant in the 9th District Court for the fatal shooting of his friend, 19-year-old Carlos Perez.

The incident occurred on December 21, 2024, at an AutoZone store in Montgomery County, where Aguilar unprovokedly shot Perez while he was working. Deputies from the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office responded quickly, secured the scene, and apprehended Aguilar shortly afterward. Investigators found no clear motive for the attack.

Under Texas law, Aguilar will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. Chief Prosecutor Laura Bond and District Attorney Michael Holley expressed sympathy for the victim’s family, acknowledging the senseless nature of the crime.

“The pain of Carlos’s loss cannot be erased, but we hope this brings his family some measure of peace,” said Bond. Holley added, “No sentence can make sense of such a senseless act, but we will continue to stand with Carlos Perez’s family as they search for peace in the wake of this tragedy.”