$4.8M Texas Airbnb booked for a party of 7 people, but the night ends with police finding 800 teenagers and a shooting in progress

A $4.8 million Texas mansion, booked on Airbnb for just seven people, was overrun by an estimated 800 teenagers, leading to a shooting and a large police response. The event had been advertised online, drawing a crowd of teenagers and young adults, some as young as 15 and others up to 25.

Celina Police Chief John Cullison told reporters that officers rushed to the property after receiving multiple emergency calls about shots fired and armed men threatening to kill someone. “We started getting the 911 calls with the shots fired,” Chief Cullison said. “We also got a call that there were 10 men at the front gate, and they had guns, and they were threatening to kill someone.”

It was only after police entered the home that they understood the true size of the party. According to the Daily Mail, Chief Cullison estimated the crowd ranged from 500 to 800 people. Bodycam footage showed teens fleeing as police arrived. No injuries were reported despite the gunfire. Videos from inside the mansion showed fights, people dancing on countertops, and general chaos.

The property owner was left with serious damage after hundreds of teens trashed his multi-million dollar home

Kishore Karlapudi, the owner of the property, was shocked when he found out what had happened. He had rented out his home believing it would host a small gathering of seven people. “We were totally shocked, and they damaged the property, you know,” Karlapudi said. 

He pointed out that his kitchen island’s granite countertop was broken, likely from people dancing on it, and fixtures throughout the home were also damaged. This is not the first time a Texas Airbnb rental has led to an unexpected and unsettling discovery, as one woman also had a shocking experience after finding a secret room in her rental.

The partiers also took down mirrors and paintings, leaving behind broken glass, garbage, and debris. Karlapudi mentioned that they even moved all the living room furniture into the garage. The mansion, built in 1996 and sitting on 18.3 acres, is valued at roughly $4.84 million.

During the police response, officers arrested a minor on suspicion of DUI and took another individual into custody who had an active warrant. According to the Texas Neighborhood Coalition, there have been 587 shootings at short-term rentals nationwide since 2019.

Airbnb has also faced criticism in other cases, with some guests reporting harassment-filled stays linked to platform policies. Chief Cullison confirmed that authorities are still investigating the incident. He issued a warning to parents, urging them to speak with their children about the dangers of attending such parties.

“As both your Chief of Police and a parent, I strongly encourage parents in our community to use this incident as a catalyst for having open and direct conversations with their sons and daughters about personal responsibility, wise decision making, and the dangers that can quickly intensify in such environments,” he said.