A man from Abilene, Texas, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Austin Tabor Heuermann, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025 following an incident where he fired at Abilene Police Department officers. He entered a guilty plea in November 2025 and received his sentence of 180 months’ imprisonment on March 6, 2026. United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix also ordered Heuermann to pay $4,019.26 in restitution.
According to court records, the events began on August 13, 2025, when police attempted to stop Heuermann for a traffic violation and an outstanding state warrant. Heuermann fled from officers, disregarding several stop signs and speeding through active school zones. Due to the potential danger to public safety, officers ended their pursuit but later found his abandoned vehicle concealed under a tarp.
Officers tracked Heuermann to another residence in Abilene. After other occupants left the house as instructed by police, Heuermann remained inside and soon fired shots through the wall toward officers outside. Officers observed debris from the wall flying into the air and retreated from the scene while calling in the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
Heuermann refused commands from SWAT negotiators for several hours despite more than ten SWAT members being present with an armored Bearcat vehicle. During this standoff, he opened the front door twice—first looking out before closing it again—and then pointing a firearm and shooting at the Bearcat vehicle. The shot struck and partially shattered its windshield above the driver’s seat.
After surrendering, officers recovered a stolen grey Century Arms Canik 9mm pistol along with spent shell casings inside the home. According to plea documents, Heuermann admitted both his status as a convicted felon and that he possessed and fired the weapon during the incident.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Abilene Resident Agency – Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Fort Worth office, and the Abilene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Schrauth prosecuted the case.
