On October 27, 2024, 32-year-old Day'Shaun Colen was fatally shot at the Bravo Hookah Lounge in Abilene, Texas. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. during a Halloween-themed event that had reached full capacity, leading to a crowd forming outside the venue. Colen was at the front of this crowd, holding open a door used by staff to enter the building. As the crowd began to push their way inside, an altercation ensued between Colen and a security guard employed by Apex Tactical Security.
Surveillance footage revealed that during the scuffle, a bystander attempted to restrain Colen by grabbing him around the neck. At that moment, the security guard, identified as 51-year-old Teddy Lee Mills, drew his firearm and shot Colen twice. Colen was transported to a hospital by friends but succumbed to his injuries later that day.
In the aftermath of the shooting, witnesses reported that Colen was unarmed at the time of the incident. Mills claimed that Colen had threatened him, stating he was "gonna get him," and that he felt someone grabbing his taser during the crowd's push, prompting him to draw his weapon. However, a bystander who was restraining Colen at the time of the shooting told investigators he did not believe Colen needed to be shot and did not see any weapons in Colen's possession or in the crowd. Surveillance footage appeared to confirm that the bystander had control of Colen when Mills fired his weapon.
Following an investigation, Mills was arrested on October 30, 2024, and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Colen's death. He was booked into the Taylor County Jail and later released on a $250,000 bond. On December 12, 2024, a Taylor County grand jury indicted Mills for the murder of Day'Shaun Colen. The indictment followed a review of evidence, including witness statements and surveillance footage from the night of the incident.
Colen's death has prompted calls for justice from his family and the community. Family members have expressed their grief and demanded accountability for the actions leading to his death. The case has also sparked discussions about security protocols and the use of force by private security personnel at local venues. As the legal process continues, the community remains attentive to the developments surrounding this tragic event.
