A Texas man accused of murdering his migrant fiancé Googled ‘Can I kill an illegal human?’ before shooting his partner in the face, records show. 

Ty Vaughn, 31, was arrested Saturday after his fiancé Luis Banos Norberto, 27, was brutally shot with a rifle in both of his eyes in their Baytown apartment – just outside of Houston – on January 14.

Police said Vaughn tried to make it look like Norberto, a native of Guerrero, Mexico, took his own life, as he told investigators they had been arguing just before he came home and found him dead, according to court documents obtained by ABC 13. 

When police arrived at the scene they discovered Norberto’s lifeless body lying on a bed, the gun propped up against his arm and a ripped up image of the couple nearby, documents showed.  

During interviews with police, Vaughn repeatedly mentioned his partner’s immigration status without provocation, the affidavit stated. 

He also gave interviews to local media before his arrest, telling outlets he was unsure about what happened to his partner. 

When asked by Eyewitness News if he had spoken to Norberto the day of his murder, Vaughn told the outlet: ‘I don’t know. The police know all the details.

‘I’ve been kind of not great. I haven’t really been going to police looking for answers,’ he added. When the outlet offered their condolences to him, Vaughn replied: ‘I mean, it is what it is.’

Surveillance footage from their apartment complex and interviews with their neighbors soon revealed what really took place that horrid day. 

At 4.05am, Vaughn told police he wasn’t home, but he was seen walking upstairs to their apartment in the video. 

Two neighbors later told authorities that shortly after that they heard gunshots. 

At 4.27am, Vaughn texted Norberto: ‘Babe? Babe why are you not texting back?!?!’ 

Police say the victim was already dead by then, leading them to believe the alleged suspect staged the messages. 

At 5.38am – more than an hour-and-a-half after the murder – Vaughn called 911 and told the operator: ‘My spouse is dead. Help. My life is over.’ 

Neighbors told the outlet that they were unaware of the murder until they were asked about it. 

‘It happened right next door, and it’s even more nerve-wracking that it could happen, and we had no idea it even happened,’ one said. 

Vaughn was booked into Harris County Jail on a murder charge. His bond was set at $500,000. 

He appeared in court on Monday morning for his preliminary hearing and remains in custody, according to records reviewed by DailyMail.com.

During the hearing, a judge ordered that he must wear a GPS tracking device if released on bond, according to documents. Vaugh is due back in court on April 30. 

Norberto has been remembered as an ‘amazing son, uncle, brother, best friend, manager and student,’ according to a GoFundMe page created to help raise money for his funeral. 

‘He was talented, artistic, creative, and such a hard worker. If you knew him, you know he was a true angel and kind soul, he deserved so much more than what this world gave him,’ his cousin Diana Ascencio wrote. 

‘There’s so much we can say about him. We will miss him so much.’ 

A funeral service was held for him on January 20 in Baytown, followed by his burial on January 22, according to his obituary. 

Emily Lopez, Norberto’s sister-in-law, also posted to Facebook to share that the family was selling food to help raise money for his services.   

‘We lost a beautiful soul too soon. Luis Banos you will be greatly missed,’ another heartbroken family member posted. 

He is survived by his parents, four grandparents, three brothers and multiple nieces and nephews who all live in the Baytown area. 

It is unclear how long Norberto and Vaughn were together. DailyMail.com contacted Vaughn’s attorney for comment.