Suvechha Sarkar
Shannon Bliek began the day of December 23, 2023, as usual. What she never expected was that it would soon turn into a nightmare when her beloved son, Benjamin Bliek, also known as Ben, and his friend Ethan Matthew Riley would be shot. The consistent efforts of the medical staff fortunately saved Ben’s life, but Ethan eventually succumbed to his injury. The episode titled, ‘The Rx Defense’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ sheds light on the investigation that revealed that Ben and Ethan’s acquaintance, Connor Lynn Hilton, was behind the shooting. It also features interviews with Ben, Shannon, the law enforcement officials who worked on the case, and Connor himself.
Shannon Bliek Filed a Civil Lawsuit in the Wake of Her Son’s Shooting
Shannon Bliek was overjoyed when she welcomed her beloved son, Benjamin Bliek, affectionately known as Ben, into the world sometime in 2004. As he grew up, Shannon always tried her best to support and cheer for her son every step of the way as he played basketball and baseball. However, her life turned upside down when Shannon learned that Ben and his friend, Ethan Matthew Riley, were shot at the house of their acquaintance, Connor Lynn Hilton. Both Ben and Ethan were rushed to the nearest hospital, where Ethan, unfortunately, succumbed to his gunshot wound on December 24, 2023. On the other hand, Ben fought for his life in the ICU at the Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center as the bullet wound affected most of his body functions.
Meanwhile, authorities began their investigation during which Connor reportedly confessed to shooting Ethan and Ben at Connor’s home on La Salle Street in Friendswood, Texas. According to reports, Connor claimed that he had no fight with Ben and Ethan prior to the shooting and was allegedly showing them the gun that his mother had bought for him. Court records specify that authorities also uncovered his suspicious social media activity, where he had used lyrics regarding murder along with his picture. Ultimately, Connor was arrested and was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. Although he was initially released on a $1 million bail bond on December 24, 2023, he was again arrested the following day.
The prosecution ultimately upgraded Connor’s charges to one count of aggravated assault and murder. In August 2025, Connor’s defense reportedly claimed that he had taken more than his prescribed dosage of an acne medication, popularly known as Accutane, which they argued may have allegedly contributed to homicidal thoughts. However, Connor eventually avoided a trial by pleading guilty to both charges. He ultimately received a 50-year term for the murder charge and an additional 20-year term for aggravated assault, to be served concurrently. Apart from that, on January 17, 2024, Shannon filed a civil personal injury lawsuit against Connor and his mother, Johnece Hilton. However, as of writing, no public reports have provided further updates on the lawsuit.
Shannon Bliek’s Life Revolves Greatly Around Her Family and Career
Beyond the legal complications and the entire ordeal, Shannon devoted all her time to making sure she was always beside Ben as he recovered from his serious injury. While recalling the first time her son greeted her verbally after the shooting, she stated, “It was like a whisper. It was very, very quiet. But he said, ‘Good morning.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God. He said it. He’s talking.'” As she spoke about Ben’s long recovery process, Shannon continued, “I really am trying to live in the moment … just keep riding the ride and see where it takes us.” Today, Shannon is quite proud of how far Ben has come and of his dedication as he has taken up pickleball.
While sharing her feelings on the matter, Shannon expressed, “He has shown more resilience and more grit than any person I could ever even know. It’s just like he’s on a mission to get better.” Before she almost lost her son, she had set her complete energy on building an impressive professional trajectory. After graduating from Friendswood High School in 1989, Shannon pursued higher education at Texas Tech University. Upon earning her degree in 1993, she began her career in the Sales department at Kellogg’s in June 2000 and has been working there ever since. Additionally, Shannon has been selling skin care and makeup products of Rodan + Fields and actively managing her own team.
Currently residing in Friendswood, Texas, Shannon continues to devote her time not only to her son, Ben, but also to her two beautiful daughters. From celebrating Easter together to immersing themselves in the cheerful atmosphere of Christmas, the family has been celebrating every festival together. Whenever Shannon gets the chance, she makes sure to set out for adventurous activities like snowboarding with her children. In her personal life, it appears that she was in a relationship in May 2016. However, at present, Shannon seems to have no romantic partner and is focused on her career and, above all, her children. She continues to live a life rooted in faith, family, and the courage to move forward.
