Club Rodeo in Austin
Off-Duty Caldwell County Constable Fatally Shot at North Austin Nightclub
An off-duty Caldwell County constable working security at Club Rodeo, a North Austin nightclub, was shot and killed early Sunday morning, marking the latest violent incident at a venue that has become a growing concern for local authorities and area businesses.
The Incident
Aaron Armstrong, a deputy with the Caldwell County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, was fatally shot in the parking lot of Club Rodeo at 9515 North Lamar Boulevard, near West Rundberg Lane, just after 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Aaron Armstrong
Armstrong, who had been with the constable’s office since October 2024, was working a security position at the establishment when the shooting occurred. Prior to joining the Caldwell County Constable’s Office, he served with the Smithville Police Department from 2011 until 2015.
When Austin Police Department officers arrived on the scene, they found Armstrong injured in the parking lot and transported him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Two Suspects Apprehended
One of two suspects was arrested at around 3:45 p.m. Sunday by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from APD Air Support, the K9 unit and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The first suspect has been identified as Thomas Vences, a man well known to Austin prosecutors.
Thomas Vences, arrested last night for murder of a deputy constable, has a long history of beating women, breaking into homes, and terrorizing families.
— Austin Justice (@AustinJustice) January 5, 2026
Sunday's shooting at Club Rodeo wasn't even his first violent crime at a North Lamar bar.
2017 — Beats up his girlfriend at… https://t.co/eiNrPnhMZI pic.twitter.com/7Ar16YqP2O
The man arrested for executing a deputy in an Austin bar spent years beating women.
— Austin Justice (@AustinJustice) January 5, 2026
He dragged a woman out of a bar and repeatedly punched her in the face until her eyes turned black. He stomped on a woman's face while ripping a child from her arms. He broke into strangers'… https://t.co/hgpLfgaYPd
A second man, Ronaldo Colindres-Simon, 22, was also arrested and charged with assault on a police officer.
Vences and his group jumped in a car driven by Colindres-Simon, who ran over one of Armstrong’s extremities as he drove away, police said.
The Austin Police Department plan to host a news conference this afternoon to provide additional details about the investigation.
Community and Official Response
Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela, who represents District 4 where the shooting occurred, expressed his grief on social media.
The Caldwell County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office shared their condolences in a Facebook post.
History of Violence at Club Rodeo
This weekend’s fatal shooting is not the first violent incident at Club Rodeo. The venue has been the site of multiple shootings in recent years:
November 2024: On November 28, an altercation in front of the nightclub led to a shooting, with the victim initially reported in stable condition.
November 2025: Just after 1 a.m. on a Friday morning in late November, police investigated a shooting in the parking lot at Club Rodeo that sent a man in his 20s to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Two suspects were detained at the scene.
June 2022: Three people were injured in a shooting near the nightclub just before 3 a.m. on a Monday morning in June. A woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries while a man sustained life-threatening injuries, with both requiring surgery. A third person connected with the shooting took themselves to a hospital.
Local Business Owners Express Safety Concerns
Vendors who operate in the area, including at a flea market that shares the same parking lot with Club Rodeo, told local media that the area hasn’t been the safest place to do business recently.
“I done rode through after they closed, and I could sometimes see guys fighting. I also heard gunshots. On Sundays over here, I know it’s safe because it’s daytime, but other than that, I don’t come out too much at night because it’s a bad area,” said one vendor who trades at the local flea market.
Another area worker noted: “There’s been a nightclub here for over 30 years, different nightclubs, rock, country. Just recently it’s what’s been happening here. It’s this area, they need to redo this whole area.”
Investigation Continues
Authorities continue to work to determine what led to the fatal confrontation that claimed Armstrong’s life while he was working to keep others safe.
One person is in custody after the Manor Police department warned of a heavy police presence Sunday night. The arrest came after a collision following a brief vehicle pursuit. (CBS Austin)
BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING
Austin’s third homicide in the past five days occurred early this morning at the Cambria Hotel in East Austin.
APD PRESS BRIEFING
National unrest flared Sunday as protesters gathered at Austin City Hall to denounce recent U.S. military action in Venezuela.
Organized by local grassroots groups under the “No War on Venezuela” banner, demonstrators carried signs with messages like “No Blood for Oil” and “U.S. Out of the Caribbean.”
EXTENDED RAW VIDEO FROM SUNDAY’S PROTEST:
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Two southbound lanes of Harris Branch Parkway were blocked off early this morning in northeast Austin after a vehicle caught fire.
Austin firefighters responded to a traffic collision Sunday involving five vehicles on IH-35 in downtown Austin. The southbound lower deck of the highway was temporarily shut down.
PODCAST
Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Austin host Nikki DaVaughn joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers.
Several meetings are on tap today at Austin City Hall, most by videoconferencing.
Regular meeting of the Public Safety Commission at 4:00 p.m.
At 6:00 p.m., Art in Public Places Panel meeting.
Members of the Music Commission meet this evening at 6:30 p.m.
Also at 6:30 p.m. is a regular meeting of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs.
The regular meeting of the City of Austin Firefighters’, Police Officers’ and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Civil Service Commission for today has been canceled.
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
LAKE TRAVIS WEATHER TIMELAPSE
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James Talarico (D), candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas:
This new war in Venezuela is deeply corrupt.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) January 5, 2026
I will never vote to send someone’s son or daughter to war to make oil executives richer. pic.twitter.com/wxBD9B60dS
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The new year shines a new light on one of the biggest stories of 2026 in Texas politics: the race for U.S. Senate. Dylan McKim and Adam Schwager deliver stories focused on the top candidates. We hear from John Cornyn, Jasmine Crockett, Wesley Hunt, Ken Paxton, and James Talarico – five candidates vying for one seat that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate. Our team digs deeper into the decision facing Texas voters, in a race with nationwide ramifications.
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The Texas Lottery has announced that a $2 million Powerball lottery ticket was sold at a gas station in Longview.
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NFL: C.J. Stroud accounted for two touchdowns before sitting down at halftime and Ka’imi Fairbairn made a go-ahead field goal with 12 seconds left to lift the Houston Texans to a 38-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts that extended their winning streak to nine games. They will take their 12-5 record to the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will face the Pittsburgh Steelers next Monday night in Pittsburgh as a 3-point favorite to win. (Yahoo! Sports)
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NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE
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Texas Football Set for BIG Week in the Portal | LIVE | 1/5/26
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ON THE SCHEDULE
STANDINGS
NBA: No action Sunday from Dallas, Houston or San Antonio. Tonight, the Rockets play while the Mavericks and Spurs both have another day off.
A visit to Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass, which straddles the Texas-Louisana state line.
