Attorney Criticizes Police Handling of A&M Student's Death

Brianna Aguilera, 19, died after falling from an apartment complex near UT Austin campus.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Houston attorney Tony Buzbee has criticized the Austin Police Department's investigation into the death of Texas A&M University sophomore Brianna Aguilera. Aguilera, 19, died early Saturday after falling 17 stories at an apartment complex near the University of Texas campus. Police have said Aguilera died by suicide, but her family insists she would not have taken her own life. Buzbee says police are awaiting the results of an autopsy, toxicology test, and rape test kit before determining the cause of death.

Why it matters

This case has raised questions about the competency of the Austin Police Department's investigation and the transparency around Aguilera's death. Her family's insistence that she would not have died by suicide has led to calls for a more thorough and impartial investigation.

The details

According to Buzbee, the Austin Police Department has already determined that Aguilera's death was a suicide, even though the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released the official cause of death. Buzbee says police are awaiting the results of an autopsy, toxicology test, and rape test kit before finalizing their findings.

  • Aguilera died early Saturday morning.
  • Police have not yet released the official cause of death.

The players

Tony Buzbee

A Houston attorney who is representing Brianna Aguilera's family and has criticized the Austin Police Department's handling of the investigation.

Brianna Aguilera

A 19-year-old Texas A&M University sophomore who died after falling from an apartment complex near the University of Texas campus.

Austin Police Department

The law enforcement agency investigating Brianna Aguilera's death, which Buzbee has criticized for its handling of the case.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Travis County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to release the official cause of Brianna Aguilera's death once the autopsy, toxicology, and rape test kit results are available.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough and impartial investigations, especially when a young person's death raises questions about the circumstances. The Aguilera family's concerns about the police's handling of the case underscore the need for transparency and accountability in such sensitive matters.