A tragic incident unfolded in Texas where a man, identified as Travis Lee Merrill, 51, is accused of fatally shooting his co-worker, Tamhara Collazo, out of an obsession with her taking what he deemed too lengthy breaks. Reports indicate the shooting occurred at the Allegiance Trucking office in Denton County.
According to sources, Merrill has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held on a staggering $10 million bond. Law enforcement arrived promptly at the scene following the tragic events on Thursday morning.
In a statement, Allegiance Trucking expressed its condolences, saying, “We are providing support to the victim’s family and our employees, who were fortunately unharmed. Our Lewisville office will remain closed indefinitely, and we are cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate this disturbing incident.”
Graeme Sloan/Associated Press
The arrest warrant details reveal that Merrill had developed an unhealthy obsession with Collazo, growing increasingly agitated by her breaks and perceived lack of attention towards him. Prior to the incident, Collazo had made HR aware of Merrill’s troubling behavior, leading to requirements for him to consult a counselor.
It was noted that Merrill had reportedly bought firearms because he wanted Collazo to “feel pain,” ultimately leading to his plan to ambush her at work. Despite indicating he had previously brought guns to the office, he felt the timing wasn’t right until that day.
On the day of the shooting, Merrill followed Collazo during her lunch break and later attacked her at her cubicle. Collazo suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was found underneath her desk. She was transported to the hospital but sadly succumbed to her injuries, as reported by Local12.