Active New Caney Shooter Activates Area SWAT Team
NEW CANEY, Texas – A multi‑agency law‑enforcement response was deployed Saturday afternoon after reports of an active shooter in the 19000 block of Nottingham Drive in the Kings Colony neighborhood.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began at approximately 4:20 p.m. on May 23, 2026, when multiple 911 callers reported an individual actively firing a weapon. Some early reports suggested the possibility of multiple victims, prompting an immediate response from deputies and assisting agencies.
When deputies arrived, they reported hearing continued gunfire. The suspect then barricaded himself inside a residence. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was activated, and after a period of containment, the suspect surrendered without further incident. By around 7:30 p.m., the scene was secured and the suspect was in custody.
Initial reports of multiple victims were later determined to be inaccurate. Investigators confirmed that two individuals sustained minor, non‑life‑threatening injuries, including a 17‑year‑old male who suffered a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, treated, and released.
The suspect, described in supplemental information as 60-year-old Juan Ayala-Montero. He was arrested and is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Jail. He is charged with Felony Deadly Conduct-Discharging a Firearm, with a bond set at $80,000. According to the Sheriff, Ayala-Montero has a criminal history. The suspect was previously deported from the US and also has a Federal ICE detainer in place.
Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit, along with Crime Scene Investigators, are processing the scene and working to determine the sequence of events. Witnesses reported shots being fired in multiple directions, and investigators are interviewing numerous individuals who were in the area at the time.
The suspect and another individual are being interviewed. Charges will be determined once investigators complete their review of the evidence and witness statements.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office expressed appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the numerous assisting agencies whose coordinated efforts helped bring the incident to a safe resolution with no fatalities.
