Harris County Sheriff: Helmet Rifle Game Ends in Murder Charge

HARRIS COUNTY, TX — Authorities say a bizarre and reckless act between two friends turned deadly, leaving one man dead and another charged with murder.

On August 17, 2025, Precinct 4 deputies responded to a home in the 23700 block of Pennington Hills Drive in Spring, TX, after receiving a call for service. When deputies arrived, they found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

The victim, later identified as 34-year-old Aaron Prout, originally from the United Kingdom but residing in Harris County, was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries.

Investigators determined that Prout and the homeowner, 37-year-old Sean Odonnell, had been recklessly taking turns shooting at each other with a rifle while one of them wore a helmet inside the house.

Initially reported as a possible suicide, detectives quickly realized the circumstances didn’t add up. After a detailed follow-up investigation, Harris County Sheriff’s Office detectives charged Odonnell with murder on August 28, 2025. He was booked into the Harris County Jail with assistance from the Violent Crimes Apprehension Team (VCAT).

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez credited the work of CSI Ward, Detectives Craig and Davis, and Sgt. Miller’s team, noting their persistence was key in uncovering the truth behind the incident.