Paul Gonzalez has been identified and was taken into custody this morning in connection with Sunday’s bomb threat at Deerbrook Mall. He is currently being held in the Harris County Jail, charged with Terroristic Threat Against Government or Public Operations.
The incident happened around 4 PM on Sunday when Gonzalez entered the Barnes & Noble at Deerbrook Mall on July 27, 2025, when he told a store employee, “I have a bomb.”
The employee reported feeling genuine fear for her safety and immediately notified mall management. Authorities were contacted, and multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, leading to the evacuation of the mall and disruption of normal operations for approximately 3.5 hours.
Multiple agencies—including Humble Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Constable’s Offices Precinct 4 and Precinct 1, Texas Department of Public Safety, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department, Aldine ISD Police Department, and the Humble Fire Department – all responded to the scene. Explosive detection K9s were deployed, and authorities conducted a thorough sweep of the area to ensure public safety.
Surveillance footage showed Gonzalez walking through the mall with three other males. They entered the bookstore, where the threat was made, and were later seen leaving the mall in a white Dodge Caravan. Investigators reviewed the footage and confirmed Gonzalez was the only one who spoke to the employee. None of the group appeared to make purchases or conduct legitimate business.
Humble PD used Flock Safety cameras to track the suspect vehicle, which displayed a Minnesota license plate registered to a different vehicle and individual not involved in the case. Still images of the suspect were shared on social media, prompting a tip from an anonymous caller who identified the suspect as Paul Gonzalez. His identity was later confirmed by someone who also identified the van and a prior booking photo of Gonzalez.
Authorities have confirmed that the mall was cleared and no explosives were found. We have more questions than answers at this time.
