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Police recover cache of weapons, coordinate with ATF as case develops
Two additional suspects were arrested Thursday in connection with the Sept. 30 shooting death of 18-year-old Jowel Wallace, police said.
According to the Elgin Police Department, search and arrest warrants were executed Oct. 16 at two separate locations in the city — one at 306 W. Alamo St. and another at 312 Lacy Drive — as part of the ongoing investigation. The operation resulted in the arrests of Aden Galindo, 18, and Jaycob Hernandez, 17.
During the operation, investigators seized 14 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and more than $4,000 in cash, according to police. Both were charged with unlawful transfer of certain weapons, a state jail felony, and remain in custody at the Bastrop County Jail.
The arrests follow the earlier first-degree murder charge of 17-year-old Jayden Sherrod, who remains in custody without bond.
According to an arrest affidavit, a witness told police that during a video call she observed a male argue with Wallace, point a gun at him and say, “I’ll shoot it right now.” She reported hearing the argument continue until a single gunshot rang out and the call went blank, consistent with the phone falling face down.
Responding officers said they found Wallace dead inside a residence on Jefferson Cove early Sept. 30, along with a spent .40-caliber Glock casing in a nearby closet.
The affidavit states that officers interviewed a suspect who said he was armed and pointed the gun at Wallace. The suspect claimed Wallace moved toward him in an attempt to take the firearm, at which point he pulled the trigger and shot Wallace in the face, according to reports.
The searches were conducted with assistance from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team.
Elgin police initially described the shooting as an isolated incident between acquaintances but said the recent arrests may indicate a broader investigation involving illegal firearms trafficking.
Police said the investigation remains active in coordination with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Jake Engle at 512-2855757 or [email protected].
