Texas Grand Jury Indicts Harris County Deputy for Murder Following Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Man at Houston Exxon Station

Harris County Deputy Aileen Jimenez Barboza faces murder charges after the fatal 2025 shooting of Levincer Swanson at a Houston gas station.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 6:06 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Courthouse News Service

Criminal Indictment for a Veteran Law Enforcement Officer

A Harris County grand jury has formally charged Deputy Aileen Jimenez Barboza with murder, concluding that she unlawfully and knowingly caused the death of Levincer Swanson in early 2025. The 36 year old deputy, who has served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years, now faces severe criminal penalties for her actions during a service call at a northwest Houston gas station. This legal development follows months of intense scrutiny by local prosecutors and internal affairs investigators regarding the use of lethal force against an unarmed individual who was experiencing a behavioral crisis.

The Escalation of a Routine Disturbance Call

The fatal encounter took place in the early morning hours of February 27, 2025, after deputies were dispatched to an Exxon station on North Freeway. According to initial reports and body worn camera footage, Levincer Swanson was allegedly acting erratically and causing damage to fuel pumps at the facility. While Swanson initially appeared to comply with law enforcement commands to stay on the ground, the situation rapidly deteriorated into a physical struggle as deputies attempted to apply handcuffs. The conflict escalated from a standard detainment into a violent wrestling match on the pavement.

Stun Gun Deployment and the Use of Lethal Force

During the struggle, both Barboza and a male deputy deployed their stun guns in an attempt to subdue Swanson. Footage released by the sheriff’s office shows that the male deputy lost control of his electronic control device during the altercation. As the two men continued to grapple on the ground, Barboza reportedly drew her service weapon while continuing to command Swanson to release the other officer. Despite the presence of a second deputy and the prior use of non lethal tools, Barboza fired two shots into Swanson’s torso, resulting in his death shortly after arriving at a local hospital.