Police say a 21-year-old man fled the store after attacking his mother, who underwent surgery and was reported in stable condition.
WACO, Texas — A 21-year-old man is accused of stabbing his mother inside a Waco Target and fleeing before officers found him nearby, according to police and an arrest warrant affidavit describing the Nov. 8 attack.
Galveston Elijah Vriseno is charged with aggravated assault of a family member causing serious bodily injury. Police were dispatched at about 2:22 p.m. to the Target in the 5400 block of Bosque Boulevard after receiving a report of a domestic disturbance involving a stabbing. His mother, Ashley Norwood, was taken to a local hospital, where she underwent surgery. Her daughter later said Norwood was in stable condition.
The affidavit provides a more detailed account of the investigation than police initially released. Officers arriving at the store found Norwood injured and unable to speak at the time, according to the document. Witnesses gave police a description of the clothing worn by the person suspected in the attack.
Investigators then reviewed surveillance video from the store. According to the affidavit, the footage showed Norwood and Vriseno walking near the optical area before Vriseno attacked her with a knife and ran from the building. Police said he fled toward a nearby intersection.
At about 4 p.m., officers learned that Vriseno had called and was at a Jack in the Box in the 5100 block of Bosque Boulevard, according to the affidavit. Officers found him wearing clothing that matched descriptions provided by witnesses and the clothing shown in store surveillance footage.
The affidavit alleges that officers saw Vriseno trying to discard a blanket and other items and washing what appeared to be blood from his hands. After officers advised him of his Miranda rights, an officer asked about a knife found in a cargo pocket. The affidavit says Vriseno acknowledged that it was the knife he had used against his mother.
A separate allegation in the affidavit concerns statements Vriseno allegedly made before the attack. His sister contacted police during the search and told investigators that two days earlier, Vriseno had said the Illuminati had told him to kill his mother and sister. The claim appears in the arrest affidavit as an account provided by Vriseno’s sister and has not been established as a factual explanation for his actions.
The Illuminati reference relates to a name that has long circulated in conspiracy theories about a supposed secret organization controlling world events. Authorities have not publicly announced any independent evidence supporting the conspiracy claim, and the allegation in the affidavit reflects statements attributed to Vriseno and his sister rather than a finding by investigators.
Police initially described the case as an aggravated assault investigation and said Vriseno had been taken into custody after leaving the Target. The more specific charge reported after the affidavit became available is aggravated assault of a family member causing serious bodily injury. He was being held on a $100,000 bond, according to the latest available reporting.
The criminal charge is an allegation, and the available records do not establish a conviction in the case. Authorities had not released a court date or additional information about the prosecution as of Tuesday. Norwood’s most recently reported condition was stable following surgery.
Author note: Last updated November 10, 2026.