Inset: Sean Odonnell (Harris County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The block in Spring, Texas, where Odonnell allegedly shot and killed his friend (Google Maps).
A 37-year-old man in Texas has been detained for the murder of his 34-year-old friend. The two men were reportedly taking turns wearing a Kevlar helmet and shooting each other in the head with a rifle. Sean Odonnell was apprehended on Thursday and is facing a murder charge in the death of Aaron Prout earlier this month, authorities reported.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office released a statement detailing that deputies from Precinct 4 responded to a call on Sunday, Aug. 17, at a residence on the 23000 block of Pennington Hills Drive in Spring, Texas, around 225 miles southeast of Dallas.
On arrival, first responders found a man later identified as Prout, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency medical professionals were called to the location and took the victim to a hospital. Unfortunately, Prout succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
The sheriff’s office noted that Prout was a citizen of the United Kingdom who had been living in Harris County. Odonnell was identified as the homeowner.
Initial investigations suggested that Prout’s fatal gunshot wound might have been self-inflicted. Authorities did not disclose what information, if any, Odonnell provided to investigators regarding Prout’s death, but further evidence gathered contradicted the initial theory, redirecting the investigation.
“Incident initially came in as a possible suicide, but things weren’t adding up,” the release states. “With thorough follow-up investigation, the truth was ultimately revealed.”
The sheriff’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) assisted in Odonnell’s arrest, police said.
“Hard to believe two, so-called friends, would take turns shooting at each other wearing a kevlar helmet, inside a house in a residential neighborhood, while using a rifle,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Harris said in a statement following the arrest.
It was not immediately clear if Odonnell had retained an attorney to represent him in the matter. However, records show that Odonnell was arrested on Aug. 21 and charged with driving under the influence. Law&Crime reached out to attorney Adam Wayne Capetillo, who is listed in court documents as representing Odonnell in that case, but did not immediately receive a response.
Jail records do not show Odonnell in custody and it was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to appear in court.
