Frank Rondel
Just before 9 p.m. on December 23, 2023, Friendswood, Texas police arrived at a residence following a 911 call to find two teens critically injured from gunshot wounds. Connor Hilton, 17, sat on the curb outside, visibly shaken, admitting he had “screwed up so bad,” reports customreceipt.com, via original press release CBS News. Officers discovered 18-year-old Ethan Riley and 19-year-old Benjamin Bliek inside the home, each shot in the head. A 15-year-old who had called 911 was also present, unharmed, standing in the bathroom with crutches.
Bodycam footage shows the chaotic moments as officers entered the house. The teen recounts the sequence: within minutes of arrival, gunshots rang out, Connor cried, and the scene fell silent. Paramedics arrived to find signs of life in both victims and worked to stabilize them before transporting them to area hospitals. Ethan Riley would later die from his injuries, while Benjamin Bliek survived after extensive surgery, a tracheotomy, and a long recovery in rehab.
Connor Hilton initially claimed self-defense, stating that Ethan had tried to grab him during an argument. However, in subsequent interviews with detectives from the Friendswood Police Department, Hilton admitted that he had been experiencing long-standing suicidal and homicidal thoughts. He confessed to planning the shootings, stating he had convinced his mother to purchase a firearm to either harm himself or others. He further revealed that he had been taking Accutane, a prescription acne medication, which his defense argues may have contributed to psychotic behavior, including recurrent homicidal ideation.
Dr. Doug Bremner, a psychiatry professor at Emory University, testified that isotretinoin, the generic form of Accutane, can produce severe psychiatric side effects in rare cases. He noted that Hilton exhibited such symptoms while taking the drug, which subsided when he discontinued it, only to reappear after resuming medication. Bremner’s testimony was restricted to the sentencing phase, with prosecutors arguing there was no causal link between the medication and Hilton’s actions.
During the investigation, detectives reviewed Hilton’s online activity, noting an interest in murder and violent content, along with social media posts that appeared hours before the shooting. Friends testified that Hilton had become increasingly isolated and obsessed with true crime after beginning the acne medication. Prosecutors maintained that Hilton knew right from wrong, pointing to his statements at the scene and subsequent police interviews as evidence that the shootings were deliberate.
Hilton was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury and later faced murder charges. After months of legal proceedings and consideration of expert testimony, Hilton accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in exchange for a 50-year prison sentence. The plea waived his right to appeal.
Benjamin Bliek, the surviving victim, continues his recovery, participating in physical activities to rebuild mobility and function. He, along with the families of the victims, provided impact statements in court, expressing grief and anger over Hilton’s actions. Connor Hilton will be eligible for parole in August 2050, at age 43.
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