A fight outside a Brownsville Golden Corral turned into gunfire Wednesday night. A stranger walked up to a restaurant worker with a gun in the parking lot. Now police have charged a 44 year old man in the case.
William Lleo, 44, faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That is a serious felony charge that can mean 2 to 20 years in prison. He also faces a charge for having marijuana. Brownsville police arrested him Wednesday night near the restaurant.
The case matters because it happened at a busy restaurant that families visit every day. A gun went off in a public parking lot on North Expressway, one of the busiest streets in Brownsville. Anyone walking to their car that night could have been hit.
Here is what police say happened. A Golden Corral employee was loading his truck in the back parking lot of the restaurant. The restaurant sits in the 4500 block of North Expressway. A man he did not know walked up to him with a gun.
The two men got into a fight. During the fight, the gun went off one time. No one was hit by the bullet. But when officers reached the scene, they found the worker with cuts and injuries on his face.
The suspect did not stay at the scene. He left before police arrived. Officers searched the area near the restaurant. They found Lleo close to a McDonald's and an Academy Sports and Outdoors store nearby.
Police arrested him around 9:10 p.m. Wednesday. A judge set his bond at $52,000. That is the amount he must pay to get out of jail while his case moves through court.
Police have not said if Lleo and the worker knew each other before the fight. Police also have not said why Lleo had a gun with him that night, or why he approached the employee. Those questions remain open as the investigation continues.
Parking lot violence is not new in the Rio Grande Valley. Fights that start over small arguments can turn deadly fast when a gun is involved. Restaurant workers, grocery store clerks, and gas station attendants often deal with strangers in parking lots as part of their job. This case is a reminder that those simple moments can turn dangerous in seconds.
Golden Corral is a popular spot for families in Brownsville. The restaurant sits along North Expressway, close to other stores and fast food spots. Shoppers and diners pass through that stretch of road all day and night. A shooting there, even one where no one was struck, shakes the sense of safety for workers and customers alike.
Cameron County records will show Lleo's next steps in court. For now, he is out on the $52,000 bond set after his arrest. His case will move through the Cameron County court system. It is not yet clear when he will appear before a judge again.
Brownsville police have not released the name of the injured worker. He was treated for the injuries to his face. It is not clear if he needed hospital care beyond what officers saw at the scene.
The investigation is still open. Detectives have not said if they are looking for anyone else connected to the fight. Anyone with information about what led up to the shooting is asked to contact the Brownsville Police Department.
El Tejano will follow this case as it moves through Cameron County court. Check back for updates on the charges against William Lleo and on the condition of the Golden Corral employee hurt in the fight.
