Connor Hilton, the Texas teenager at the center of a devastating 2023 shooting that killed one friend and seriously injured another, has pleaded guilty to murder and received a 50-year prison sentence.
The shooting happened on December 23, 2023, at Hilton’s home in Friendswood, Texas. Hilton was 17 at the time. Police were called to the residence shortly before 9 p.m. after another teenager inside the home hid in a bathroom and called 911 after hearing gunshots. Officers found 18-year-old Ethan Riley and 19-year-old Benjamin “Ben” Bliek suffering from gunshot wounds. Riley later died from his injuries, while Bliek survived.
Hilton was found outside the home when officers arrived. According to court documents, he initially gave investigators different explanations for what had happened before eventually admitting that he had shot the two teenagers.
The case drew widespread attention because of the circumstances surrounding the shooting and Hilton’s statements to investigators. Prosecutors alleged that the shootings were intentional, while Hilton’s defense later argued that a prescription acne medication, isotretinoin, commonly known as Accutane, had contributed to severe psychiatric symptoms.
In interviews later featured by CBS News’ 48 Hours, Hilton said he had experienced suicidal and homicidal thoughts while taking the medication. A defense expert argued that he had suffered a medication-related psychotic disorder. Prosecutors disputed that explanation, and a judge ultimately ruled that the proposed medication defense could not be used at trial.
Hilton ultimately pleaded guilty in September 2025 to murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A Galveston County judge sentenced him to 50 years in prison for Riley’s death.
The shooting devastated the families of both teenagers. Riley’s death ended the life of an 18-year-old, while Bliek faced a long and difficult recovery from the injuries he sustained. According to CBS News, Bliek spent weeks in the hospital and underwent extensive rehabilitation after suffering severe injuries.
The case also raised questions about firearm safety and the events that preceded the shooting. Hilton’s family expressed condolences to the victims’ families following the attack, while his legal team pursued the argument that his mental state had been affected by medication.
Ultimately, Hilton accepted responsibility in court and agreed to the 50-year sentence rather than proceed with a murder trial after the medication-related defense was rejected.
The tragedy continues to be remembered as a devastating loss for the Friendswood community and, most importantly, for the families of Ethan Riley and Benjamin Bliek. What began as a gathering of teenagers at a friend’s home shortly before Christmas ended with one young man dead, another seriously wounded and a third facing decades behind bars.
Hilton’s case has since received renewed national attention through documentaries and the CBS 48 Hours report examining the shooting, his mental-health claims and the legal battle that followed.
