A trio of Houstonians who have been posting stunts on social media for years is facing new criminal charges after they allegedly entered the River Oaks Tower on Kirby.
Edward Gonzales is accused of entering River Oaks Tower last week with Antonio Aguirre and Roland Zepeda. The three men are charged with making a terroristic threat, according to officials.
The incident brought back memories of Gonzalez's earlier run-ins with the law. In 2016, Gonzales, seen in video wearing a white shirt, made headlines after he and his cousin Zepeda were filmed playing basketball on a highway entrance ramp. They also faced theft charges that year.
Years later, prosecutors allege Gonzales and the two other men took their stunts into an office building, where they posed as delivery workers and confronted tenants.
Videos of the trio hitting a number of local office buildings can be seen on several social media accounts they run.
Attorney Chris Morrell said this time, it was no different. Morrell said he was in his office when he heard someone yelling loudly in the lobby last Wednesday.
"We don't know what's happening, but they're yelling at the top of their lungs," Morrell said. "So immediately, we're put on edge. What is happening outside, we have no idea."
Morrell said the men eventually entered his office and got in his face. He said he did not know whether they were armed.
"I'm face to face with two of the guys. It is very tense, and I don't know whether they're armed; they have weapons," Morrell said. "They're clearly not who they said they are, and I'm trying to get them out of the office because they're clearly intimidating me and my staff."
Morrell said the men claimed they were there to make a delivery but began asking for personal information and appeared intent on provoking a reaction.
The confrontation eventually prompted the Houston Police Department's SWAT team to respond.
Morrell said he believes the situation could have ended much differently.
"It could have very easily escalated to someone getting beaten up very badly or having a weapon and getting killed," he said. "It was a second from escalating."
Gonzales has continued to attract attention online since the 2016 incident, but the latest case could have more serious consequences.
ABC13 tried to contact Gonzales; he picked up the phone but hung up a few moments later. His attorney did not return requests for comment.
For Morrell, the incident was a reminder of how quickly an alleged social media stunt can turn dangerous.
"Luckily, it didn't end in violence," he said.