Suspect in murder at El Paso Walgreens denied bond: Court records
UPDATE (July 20, 2026) -- Court records said Nicholas Wells has been denied bond Friday during his bond hearing.
UPDATE (July 6, 2026) -- Monday, the El Paso Police Department said it arrested and charged a 26-year-old man for allegedly murdering a man at a Walgreens in West El Paso.
Police said officers went to the shooting scene at 11:34 p.m. July 2 at a Walgreens on N. Mesa across from the Don Haskins Center. The suspect, Nicholas Wells, was one of the 911 callers reporting the shooting.
Officers arrested Wells after he reportedly admitted to the shooting, a news release said. He also allegedly had two firearms on the hood of his SUV -- a Glock handgun and a revolver -- police documents said.
Inside the store, officers found 32-year-old Christopher Brandon Steven with gunshot wounds. The news release said he later died in the hospital.
Investigators said the shooting happened after an argument over a handicap parking space, EPPD said.
Police documents said Wells parked his SUV at the Walgreens. Later, Steven, his mother and sister tried to park in a handicap spot next to Wells.
Steven's family reportedly said Wells yelled and asked why they parked next to him, documents said. The family then reversed and parked in a different spot.
Wells allegedly followed Steven and his family inside, and the fight reportedly turned physical, documents said. Wells allegedly hit Steven's face, and the two men reportedly grabbed at each other, documents said.
Documents said Wells allegedly pointed a handgun at Steven's head. He reportedly shot his abdomen, documents said. Steven fell to the ground, and Wells allegedly fired two other times.
Documents said Wells called 911 to report himself after Steven fell to the ground. He allegedly told police he confronted the family in the parking lot because they "drove erratically" and nearly hit him.
However, police documents said investigators found inconsistencies between surveillance video and Wells' story. They said Steven's family's vehicle didn't drive at a high rate of speed and didn't put Wells in danger, according to police.
Documents said Wells alleged Steven kept attacking him while he fired the gun. Investigators said video footage showed Steven laying on the floor defenseless and bleeding out, according to documents.
Additionally, documents said an autopsy found the manner of death to be listed as a homicide. It said Steven had three suspected gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
Wells booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a murder charge.
EPPD said this is the eighth murder this year. At this time last year, police reported 15 murders.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Police Department said the Crimes Against Persons unit is investigating a Thursday night shooting. Authorities said a 32-year-old man was sent to the hospital with serious injuries.
Police say the call came in at around 11:34 p.m. Thursday night from the Walgreens on Mesa Street near the University of Texas at El Paso.
ABC-7 did see the El Paso Fire Department on scene and saw one person airlifted by EPFD's Fire STAR.
This is a developing story and we will bring updates as they become available.
