Harris County Deputy Indicted for Murder in 2025 Fatal Gas Station Shooting

A Harris County grand jury indicted Deputy Aileen Jimenez Barboza, 36, for murder on March 20, 2026, charging that she unlawfully and knowingly caused the death of Levincer Swanson, 36, outside an Exxon gas station at 1303 North Freeway at West Road in northwest Houston more than a year ago.

The shooting occurred just after 3 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2025, when Barboza and a male deputy responded to a 911 call reporting a man acting erratically and destroying fuel pumps at the station. Body-worn camera footage released by the Harris County Sheriff's Office in April 2025 shows the deputies ordering Swanson to the ground. He initially complied, but became combative as they tried to handcuff him.

The footage shows both deputies deploying their stun guns during the struggle. The male deputy's stun gun fell to the ground as he and Swanson continued to fight on the ground. Barboza commanded Swanson to comply and let the other deputy go while continuing to deploy her own stun gun. As Swanson kept resisting, Barboza drew her firearm and fired two shots, striking him in the torso. Swanson was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An Internal Affairs investigation found Barboza violated multiple policies in connection with the fatal shooting. The HCSO Administrative Disciplinary Committee recommended her termination, with that recommendation arriving on March 19, one day before the grand jury returned the indictment. Barboza had been placed on non-law enforcement duty immediately after the shooting and remained in that role until the termination decision. She has been with the sheriff's office since 2010 and retains the right to appeal the termination under the civil service system.

No charges have been reported against the male deputy who was present at the scene, and his identity has not been released. The indictment does not identify an arraignment date, and no statement from Barboza or her legal counsel has been made public.