Police:Suspect 'hoped' victim died after hatchet attack Affidavit details Hutto Home Depot assault
HUTTO — A man charged in a brutal hatchet attack on a customer at the Home Depot asked officers if the victim had succumbed to his injuries and said he “hoped he was dead,” according to a probable-cause affidavit.
Investigators have said the assault occurred about 5 p.m. Aug. 14 inside the store in the 600 block of West Street. Police initially said the incident was “unprovoked” and have not yet said if the investigation has determined a motive.
Officers arrested a suspect about an hour after the episode and the victim continues to improve, investigators said. John Doyle Bauer, 41, of Austin, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. At press time, he remained in the Williamson County Jail in Georgetown in lieu of posting a $750,000 bond.
Manuel Vera, 78, of Hutto, was rushed to Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock after suffering injuries to both arms and his head, police said.
Vera has since been released from the medical center and is recovering at home, according to a post from his family on Facebook. According to Hutto police, Bauer told officers he “had just killed someone,” according to the court document obtained by the Taylor Press.
The affidavit filed by Hutto Detective John Vargas and affirmed by Magistrate Ryan Palmquist stated that Vargas contacted Home Depot Asset Protection Manager Timothy Jones, who showed him surveillance footage of the incident.
See ATTACK • page 2 Vargas said he observed Bauer and Vera arrive at the Home Depot, with Bauer following Vera into the store before stopping near the entrance and watching Vera walk farther inside, the court document stated.
Bauer then selected a hatchet from a rack and approached Vera, striking him multiple times with the hatchet, which caused Vera to fall to the floor, according to Vargas’ account outlined in the affidavit.
Bauer then dropped the hatchet and drove away in his white Toyota, according to the court record.
Hutto police later located the vehicle just outside the city limits. Bauer was taken into custody, placed in handcuffs and transported to the Hutto Police Department for questioning, according to the affidavit.
Once in custody, Bauer asked Vargas and Detective Rooshad Irani if the victim was dead and hoped that the individual was dead, according to the affidavit.
Vera’s family has since created a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses related to the attack.
As of last week, the site raised more than $7,000 toward its $10,000 goal.
“Thank you once again for all of your generous donations. It truly means so much to have such an incredible community surrounding our family. Manuel has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from everyone,” the family wrote on his fundraising page.
Those wishing to contribute to Vera’s medical expenses can donate at https://gofund. me/05d9cdf65.
