A deeply disturbing incident unfolded in Texas, captivating the attention of countless individuals across the internet. Caught on surveillance cameras, the footage shows the heart-wrenching moment when a teenager callously ran over a defenseless man in a wheelchair and callously fled the scene.

The incident occurred on September 3, 2022, around 10 o’clock in the morning, at a parking lot on North Lamar Boulevard in Austin, Texas. The harrowing video begins with the driver displaying reckless behavior, prompting the victim to signal him to slow down. Tragically, the plea fell on deaf ears, and instead of heeding the warning, the teenager heartlessly ran over the man, dragging him mercilessly through the parking lot before making a swift getaway.

Fortunately, the swift actions of an Austin Fire Department crew brought hope amidst the chaos. Witnessing the horrific scene, they promptly approached the victim and rendered immediate assistance. Despite their efforts, the victim sustained life-threatening injuries and had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

The identity of the teen behind the wheel of the viral video has been revealed as 17-year-old Pablo Antonio Avila-Banagas. On September 9, 2022, the Austin Police Department apprehended him, and he now faces serious charges, including failure to stop and render aid (serious bodily injury), a third-degree felony; injury to a disabled person, a second-degree felony; unlawful carry of a firearm, a Class A misdemeanor; and failure to identify in relation to this case, a Class B misdemeanor. As an adult, Avila-Banagas is scheduled to appear in court in November to face the consequences of his heinous actions.

While the investigation into this distressing incident remains ongoing, authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward and assist in the pursuit of justice.

The story was covered by Inside Edition, who shared the footage on YouTube. Garnering over 300,000 views, the incident evoked an outpouring of comments from viewers, all shocked and appalled by the teen’s heartless act. One commenter expressed their anguish, stating, “That teen just threw his life away. This was clearly intentional, and it breaks my heart knowing that people like him tend to lack respect for anything anymore.” Another viewer commented, “He literally turned into him. That’s not just a simple mistake or lack of attention. I hope that guy makes it, and that teen gets the punishment he deserves because that’s utterly intolerable.” One commenter’s heartbreak was evident as they wrote, “What kind of awful human would do such a horrible thing to another human? This breaks my heart.” And another viewer questioned the lack of compassion, saying, “I just don’t understand how people can be this heartless to another person. That was deliberate and for what?! My prayers go out to the victim.”

Numerous individuals are now praying fervently for the victim’s recovery, with one empathetic viewer sharing, “This is absolutely heartbreaking. My heart goes out to that disabled gentleman, and I hope he is able to recover.” Another compassionate comment read, “Poor guy, I hope his condition improves. He didn’t deserve this. What did that man ever do to you?!!”