Copperas Cove Family Shot on Port Aransas Beach During Vacation

Five young adults from Copperas Cove and Lampasas were shot on a Port Aransas beach late Saturday night during what family members described as their annual vacation, leaving two in the intensive care unit and prompting the arrest of a San Antonio teen on aggravated assault charges.

Port Aransas Police Department officers responded just after 11:30 p.m. to reports of gunfire near a stretch of beach known as "Hole 20." According to police, a preliminary investigation indicates an altercation broke out between two groups before a firearm was displayed and multiple shots were fired into the crowd.

Stacy Ross, a family member of the victims, described the moment she learned what had happened. "There's no words to describe the fear of what you're about to walk into," Ross said. All five victims, ages 20 to 30, have ties to Lampasas or Copperas Cove. Ross confirmed the group included four family members and one family friend. "We have two family members still in the ICU. One family member is no longer in the ICU and the other two were released," she said.

The family is now staying in Port Aransas temporarily while the victims recover, a process that could take weeks for some. A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover hotel stays, food, and hospital bills.

A 17-year-old from San Antonio is behind bars facing aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges in connection with the shooting. One suspect was charged with five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and three others were taken into custody for questioning. Reporting by Fox San Antonio identified the charged suspect as Ernesto Castillo of San Antonio, though it could not be independently confirmed from available sources whether Castillo is the same juvenile referenced by other outlets.

Port Aransas police said the investigation remains active and additional information will be released as it becomes available. Details about what specifically triggered the altercation between the two groups have not yet been released by authorities.