Police in Texas say a man allegedly shot and killed his fiancé and attempted to stage the scene to look like a suicide. Ty Vaughn, 31, reportedly shot 27-year-old Luis Banos inside their Baytown, Texas, apartment on January 14, 2025. Vaughn called 911, stating he had found Banos dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. But an inconsistent story and damning Google search history helped lead to his arrest.
According to a news release from the Baytown Police Department, Vaughn called 911 around 5:30 a.m. to report his fiancé had died in their apartment on Crosby Cedar Bayou. Per court documents obtained by ABC 13, Vaughn told police he and Banos had argued earlier in the day, and he left the apartment. He said he returned later that day and found Banos deceased.
Investigators obtained video surveillance from the apartment complex and spoke to neighbors, which poked holes in his story. Vaughn reportedly told police he left the apartment, but surveillance captured him there at 4:05 a.m. Neighbors also claimed they heard a gunshot, according to court documents.
About 15 minutes later, Vaughn texted his fiancé, who was already deceased, “Babe? Babe why are you not texting back?!?!” ABC 13 reported.
Vaughn dialed 911 at 5:38 a.m. and reportedly said, “My spouse is dead. Help. My life is over.”
When police arrived at the apartment, they reportedly found Banos with a rifle propped up against him and had a gunshot wound in one eye. An unnamed neighbor told ABC 13 that the news of the man’s death was shocking.
“It happened right next door, and it’s even more nerve-wracking that it could happen, and we had no idea it even happened,” the neighbor said.
Following the death, investigators spoke with Vaughn, who reportedly mentioned Banos’ immigration status multiple times during the interview. Investigators noted the man had allegedly Googled, “Can I kill an illegal human?”
ABC 13 reached out to Vaughn before his arrest and asked if he’d spoken to Banos the day of his death, and he promptly replied, “I don’t know. The police know all the details.”
When asked what police told him, he reportedly replied, “I don’t know. I’ve been kind of not great. I haven’t really been going to the police looking for answers.”
A judge set Vaughn’s bond at $500,000, per ABC 13. He faces one count of murder.
