BACLIF, Texas — An 83-year-old man, referred to by neighbors as “Can Man Bill,” faces murder charges following the fatal shooting of his neighbor earlier this month. Wilmer Clifford Brillhart was arrested on May 16 in connection with the death of Glen Davis, 66, who was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound on May 9 and later pronounced dead in a local hospital.
Authorities report that Brillhart allegedly threatened Davis just days before the shooting. Both men were known to each other through their attendance at Lighthouse Christian Ministries in Bacliff, where they participated in weekly meals and community support. Witness statements indicate that Brillhart made alarming declarations about harming Davis, including one instance where he reportedly indicated a desire to “put some lead” into him.
Further investigations uncovered that Brillhart had a troubling history. Interviews revealed that he often boastfully recounted previous violent encounters, suggesting he had evaded consequences for earlier actions by claiming self-defense. Disturbingly, some acquaintances recalled him joking about becoming a “serial killer” if he claimed a third life.
A Texas judge officially charged Brillhart with murder after determining sufficient probable cause during a preliminary hearing. This incident marks not his first encounter with law enforcement. In 2014, he was involved in a shooting that resulted in the death of 31-year-old James Warren. Although he claimed self-defense at that time, controversy swirled around the circumstances, with witnesses contradicting his narrative. Eventually, a Galveston court found him not guilty after two years of legal proceedings.
Joseph Warren, the brother of the deceased from the earlier incident, expressed his intention to support the family of Glen Davis during court proceedings. He stated that the occasion of justice would also serve as a form of closure for him and his family. “Whenever I received word, I went down there and I supported the next family,” he said, emphasizing the importance of community solidarity in times of tragedy.
Brillhart is currently detained at the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department Jail with a bond set at $500,000. The timeline for his next court appearance remains uncertain, as investigators continue to unravel the details surrounding this disturbing case.