Austin, TX
Police reveal how college student died after attending tailgate party
AUSTIN, Texas (Gray News) – Police in Texas have revealed more information about what happened to a Texas A&M sophomore who was found dead Saturday after attending a tailgate party.
In a Thursday morning news conference, police said they found substantial evidence that 19-year-old Brianna Aguilera died by suicide.
Her body was found outside an apartment complex early Saturday morning after officials said she fell from a 17th-floor unit.
Police said while they typically do not comment publicly about a suicide, national attention surrounding Aguilera’s death has caused a swell of inaccurate information and speculation.
“It is not common for a police department to speak publicly about a death by suicide. But inaccurate information has circulated and been reported,” said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. “And that has led to additional harm of innocent people, bullying included, and their families. There have also been statements suggesting the police have failed to do our jobs. Those statements are not accurate.”
Police said Aguilera attended a tailgate party earlier in the evening and was asked to leave around 10 p.m. because of her level of intoxication.
The camera system at the apartment complex she returned to helped establish a timeline of what happened next.
Surveillance video showed Aguilera arriving at the apartment complex at 11 p.m. and going to a unit on the 17th floor.
Around 12:30 a.m., a large group of people left the apartment, leaving Aguilera and three other young women inside.
Phone records show Aguilera had a one-minute phone call with an out-of-town boyfriend from 12:43 to 12:44 a.m. Witnesses said she argued on the phone, which was later confirmed by the boyfriend.
Just two minutes later, at 12:46 a.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting Aguilera’s body was found outside.
Aguilera was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:56 a.m. Police said she had trauma “consistent with having fallen from a higher floor.”
Further investigation of Aguilera’s phone found she had written and deleted a suicide note dated Nov. 25, which was dedicated to specific people in her life.
Friends told police Aguilera had made suicidal comments beginning in October. A text message to a friend earlier in the evening of her death also indicated thoughts of suicide, police said.
Police said at no point during the investigation did any evidence point to criminal activity.
Investigators said after speaking with friends and family, it was “very apparent” how loved Aguilera was, and that “every friend and witness has been nothing but forthcoming and open.”
Despite the police ruling, Aguilera’s family has hired legal representation to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, according to KGNS.
Aguilera was originally from the Laredo area and was a graduate of United High School, where she was a cheerleader and honors student, KBTX reports.
A GoFundMe was set up by family members to help cover funeral expenses.
If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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