A man from Lewisville, Texas, shot and killed his co-worker in front of their workmates because he was upset about her taking long lunch breaks. The alleged shooter revealed to the police that he had planned the shooting at the office to make the woman “feel pain” as she had caused him pain. The man became obsessed with his co-worker, Tamhara Collazo, and started monitoring the duration of her breaks. Collazo reported his behaviour to the HR department, which led to his arrest after she was shot.
The shooting took place at Allegiance Trucks, where both the victim and the shooter worked. Despite immediate police response and efforts to save her, Collazo tragically succumbed to her injuries. The alleged shooter, Travis Lee Merrill, 51, confessed to detectives about his obsession with Collazo and his anger over her breaks and lack of attention towards him. The court documents revealed a disturbing escalation of behaviour from Merrill, including bringing guns to work and meticulously planning the shooting.
Merrill admitted to following Collazo during her lunch break, preparing two revolvers in his car, and ambushing her upon her return to the office. The shooting, witnessed by two dozen colleagues, resulted in Collazo being struck five times. Merrill’s fixation on Collazo’s break times even continued after his arrest, as he provided detailed information to the detectives. Allegiance Trucks announced the indefinite closure of the office and expressed support for the victim’s family and employees.
The company highlighted the impact of gun violence in workplaces and stated their cooperation with law enforcement. Merrill is currently detained in the Denton County Jail, with his bond set at $10 million. The shocking incident has left the community reeling and raised concerns about workplace safety and the escalation of grievances to such tragic outcomes. The event serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked obsessions and workplace conflicts.