Texas man says he shot co-worker he was ‘obsessed with’ over her ‘unauthorized long breaks’

A Texas man has been charged with killing a co-worker who authorities say was “obsessed.” accused of murder her at the workplace in front of his other colleagues.

Travis Merrill has been charged with first degree murder in the killing of Tahmara Collazo.

On Thursday, October 17th, Lewisville Police responded to an “active shooter” call at a trucking company. Loyalty trucking.

When they arrived and entered the office building, they were immediately confronted by Merrill, 51, who put his hands up and admitted to shooting. He was detained without incident.

Authorities found Collazo under a table in his cubicle with multiple gunshot wounds. Police say she was shot twice in the arm, twice in the chest and once in the leg. Paramedics took her to a local hospital, where she died.

Merrill agreed to an interview with detectives in which he admitted that he opened fire on Collazo and explained his motives for the shooting.

According to police affidavit, he told police he was “obsessed with Collazo and became increasingly angry” over what he believed to be “unauthorized long breaks” she was taking from work. He was also disappointed that she “wasn’t paying attention” to him.

Cogliazzo reported Merrill to her supervisors for keeping a close eye on her. Merrill told detectives he was ordered off work and could not return until he spoke with a counselor. Upon his return, he said he could tell Collazo was avoiding him and that his colleagues “must think he’s a psychopath.”

Her behavior angered him even more, so he purchased a firearm and “practiced with it” at home. He told investigators that Collazo “hurt him and he wanted her to feel the pain, so he deliberately planned to shoot her at work with everyone present,” according to the affidavit.

He admitted that he drove to work with the gun on his day off, but stayed in the parking lot. The day before the shooting, he took a firearm to work again, but said that day “wasn’t the right time.”

On the day Kolyaso was shot, Merrill admitted he followed her to the parking lot during her lunch break and watched her sit in the car while he prepared his guns in his car.

When Collazo started to walk back into the office, Merrill followed her, “laid in wait” for her in her cubicle and fired the gun several times, the affidavit said.

Two dozen co-workers witnessed the shooting.

After his arrest at the office, Merrill was booked into the Denton County Jail on $10 million bail.

In a statement to Fox4NewsAllegiance Trucking said, “The company is extending its support to the victim’s family and the rest of our employees, who fortunately were not injured, and we have closed our Lewisville office indefinitely. We are also working closely with law enforcement during their ongoing investigation. We’re asking for the community’s support as our company sadly joins a growing national community of workplaces affected by gun violence.”