Update: Detectives arrested 24-year-old Wesley Benavides on Monday, June 15, and charged him with Aggravated Assault. Benavides is accused of firing at a vehicle in the drive-thru of the Whataburger on South First St. on June 7, after an altercation. There are no other arrests associated with this case. Benavides is being held at the Taylor County Jail. He was recently released from the hospital due to injuries sustained in the shooting.
Original media release:
ABILENE, TX – On Sunday, June 7, at approximately 10:20 p.m. an officer in the area called in a shooting at the Whataburger fast-food restaurant on South Pioneer and South First. The Officer at the nearby intersection witnessed part of the altercation. He detained one of the involved parties. The other party, driving a white Chevrolet Tahoe, had fled the scene. Witnesses also confirm there was an altercation between two parties, one in a white Tahoe and the other party in a Toyota Tundra, while in the drive-through. An argument ensued leading to shots being fired from both vehicles. A 24-year-old male who was in the white Tahoe was located while en route to a South Abilene hospital suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He remains at the hospital being treated for his injuries. No arrests have been made in this incident and detectives continue to investigate the shooting.
Respectfully,
Rick Tomlin
Public Information Coordinator