BRYAN, Texas — A man at the center of a burglary and assault in November 2022 will spend the next four decades in prison following a guilty plea.
According to the Brazos County District Attorney's Office, on Nov. 14, Bryan Police were called to investigate a report of gunshots going off and a victim informing 911 that her ex-boyfriend had pointed a gun at her and shot it twice.
When officers made it to the crime scene, they found blood, broken glass, and a bullet casing where the shooting was reported. Police also discovered that Eric Carroll, the man sentenced, had previously been to the home and assaulted the victim.
Carroll was found and arrested a short time later after officers began investigating the crime scene. According to the district attorney's office, as he was being investigated, gunshot primer residue was found on his hands.
Prior to his trial, prosecutors learned that Carroll had called others that dialed 911 and tried to offer one of them money in order for them to testify that the gunshots that were reported were actually fireworks. In addition to attempting to tamper with the evidence that would be presented in the trial, Carroll also had previously been sentenced to 20 years for a home burglary and was described as a "habitual offender."
Carroll pled guilty to his charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Burglary of a Habitation on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
"The defendant intentionally engaged in violent conduct that put a woman and her neighbors in serious danger," said Assistant District Attorneys Caleb Beacham and Abigail Goodman in a press release. "One he was caught for that conduct he then attempted to escape responsibility by tampering with a brave and honest witness. This kind of criminal conduct has no place in Brazos County."
