According to a report by Law and Crime on Thursday, December 28, 2023, a Texas teenager who allegedly shot two of his friends in the head at his home before Christmas told police that he had a long-standing desire to kill someone, according to court documents.
Connor Hilton, 17, was charged with murder this week after one of his victims, Ethan Riley, 18, died from his injuries. The other victim, Benjamin Bliek, 19, survived the shooting but remains in critical condition.
Hilton allegedly confessed to shooting Riley and Bliek on Dec. 23 at his suburban Friendswood home, where they had come to hang out with him.
He also told police that he had no quarrel with his friends and that he had persuaded his mother to buy him the revolver he used in the shooting.
According to a statement of probable cause obtained by Law&Crime, police responded to a 911 call from a witness who was inside the house and heard two gunshots.
Police found Hilton outside the house, looking “visibly distraught” and indicating that there were two teenagers inside who he believed were dead.
Inside the house, police found Riley and Bliek lying on the floor with gunshot wounds to their heads and a teal and gray revolver nearby.
Hilton was taken to the police station, where he underwent a gun residue test and an interview. Police said they observed Hilton admit to shooting Riley and Bliek, as well as another person whose name was redacted from the document.
“Hilton stated that he decided to shoot Riley, Bliek and [redacted] once inside the residence,” the probable cause affidavit states.
“Hilton stated that he had thought about and wanted to commit a homicide for a long time.”
The 17-year-old allegedly said he stood up, raised the gun and shot Riley first in the left side of the head, then turned to his right and shot Bliek in the left side of the head.
He also said he saw Bliek raise his hands to defend himself before he pulled the trigger.
“Hilton stated that he fully understands what he had done and that he should be held accountable,” police said.
Hilton was initially arrested on Dec. 24 and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with bodily injury.
He was booked into the Galveston County Jail with bond set at $1 million, which he posted by midday. He was rearrested on Dec. 25 after District Attorney Jack Roady approved an upgraded murder charge following Riley’s death.
Court records obtained by Law&Crime show that Hilton’s bond conditions now include GPS monitoring, which was not part of his original bond.
Roady did not immediately return a request for comment on how much the new bond for Hilton may be now.
Hilton’s motive for the shooting remains unclear, as police said there was no disturbance or disagreement between him and his friends.
The case has shocked the community of Friendswood, where Hilton attended high school and was involved in sports and theater.
Friends and family of Riley and Bliek have expressed their grief and disbelief on social media, describing them as kind, funny and caring young men.
