Travis Bingham, 38, was inside the home on Garden Lake Drive when law enforcement arrived around 6 a.m. on Thursday, according to homeowner Russ Gundrum, 77.
According to the Lavaca County Attorney's Office, Bingham has been on the run since April 13, 2026, after failing to appear for his trial on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender.
Gundrum said Bingham was inside the home without his knowledge.
"He knows he hadn't been welcome here for a long time. I would've turned him in if I'd known he was here," Gundrum said.
The dramatic SWAT standoff unfolded on 3500 Garden Lake Drive, just a few hundred feet away from Bear Branch Elementary School.
SkyEye13 video showed a heavy law enforcement presence surrounding the home, and Gundrum described the chaotic scene unfolding inside.
"I was awakened with what sounded like gunshots, and I just got up," Gundrum said. "When I went around the corner here, I saw a bright light coming through the front window," he said about the SWAT teams entering his home.
Gundrum's wife, whom he said has Parkinson's disease and blood cancer, was also inside the home at the time. His daughter and other family members were there as well.
Gundrum said he later learned Bingham had been brought to the home by his daughter after she picked him up in New Mexico, where he had been staying. Gundrum said he was unaware of the trip.
The raid left several windows broken, and Gundrum said the damage has made the home temporarily uninhabitable for his wife because of the heat.
Neighbors helped cover the damaged windows following the raid.
Gundrum said he is frustrated that the damage happened because of someone he did not know was inside his home.
"Travis is the culprit here," Gundrum said. "He knows he hadn't been welcome here for a long time. I would've turned him in if I'd known he was here."
The Texas Sex Offender Registry lists the Kingwood home as Bingham's residence. Gundrum confirmed Bingham had lived at the home in the past but said he no longer lives there.
Authorities have not said whether Bingham faces additional charges related to Thursday morning's raid. The investigation remains ongoing.
At one point, Bear Branch Elementary sent out a notice to parents that the school was placed on a "Secure the Perimeter" status as the investigation continued.
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