Travis Merrill, 51, was arrested after allegedly shooting and killing his colleague, Tamhara Collazo, at her desk at Allegiance Trucks in Lewisville, about 30 miles north of Dallas.
According to authorities, Merrill opened fire after Collazo returned from a lunch break last Thursday. She was rushed to the hospital but later died from her injuries. An affidavit described how Merrill “ambushed” her at her cubicle, shooting her several times as she re-entered the office.
The court document stated that Merrill admitted to being “obsessed” with Collazo and had been tracking the days and length of her breaks. He became increasingly angry, believing her breaks were unauthorized and upset that she didn’t pay him any attention.
Collazo had reported Merrill’s troubling behavior to HR, which resulted in Merrill being ordered to seek counseling before returning to work. Afterward, Collazo avoided him, which further enraged Merrill. He admitted to police that he bought firearms and had brought them to work several times.
Merrill claimed Collazo “caused him pain,” and he wanted her to feel the same, so he planned to shoot her at work in front of their colleagues, according to FOX 4.
Allegiance Trucks expressed its devastation over the tragedy, stating that the Lewisville office would remain closed indefinitely. The company is providing support to Collazo’s family and other employees while cooperating with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.
In a statement, the company said, “We ask for the community’s support as our company has unfortunately joined the growing national community of workplaces affected by gun violence.”
