How police connected two suspects to deadly shooting outside Austin Waffle House
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TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Two men have been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting that happened outside of a northeast Austin Waffle House last month, according to court documents.
Court documents show Irving Antunez-Sanchez, 18, was arrested on a murder charge on June 21 and had a $750,000 bond as of Tuesday. KXAN reached out to his attorney for comment and will update this article if one is received.
The second man was identified as Emmanuel Perez, 17, according to court records. Perez's attorney, Charles F. Baird, told KXAN his client is currently in jail on a $100,000 bond and he is requesting the bond be reduced, adding Perez is "in no way responsible for the death of Tykeisha Lewis."
I am confident that after a thorough and complete investigation, Emmanuel will be exonerated, and no charges will be filed against him in connection with Ms. Lewis’ death.
We are saddened by the death of Ms. Lewis and send our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.
Charles F. Baird, Attorney at Law
The investigation
On June 8, shortly after 6 a.m., the Austin Police Department responded to a report of a shooting outside a Waffle House on the 12300 block of Dessau Road. A total of two people were shot, one fatally, after an argument that happened between two groups outside the restaurant, court records said.
APD previously identified Tykeisha Lewis, 25, as the victim who died. The second victim was a woman who was taken to the hospital for her injuries, according to police.
Employees and other witnesses inside the Waffle House at the time told investigators a total of four Hispanic men came inside the restaurant. As they left, they spoke with a group that included the two victims.
According to surveillance footage obtained by investigators, the groups were seen arguing outside the restaurant around 5:40 a.m. A Waffle House security guard asked the Hispanic men to leave the premises, court documents show. Then, around 5:42 a.m., the men "leave the camera view," according to court records. At 5:59 a.m. the video showed the victims and their friends taking cover, and Lewis falling to the ground. No suspects could be seen in the video during that time, court records said.
However, witnesses told police they saw the four men get into a black Dodge Durango.
Investigators later described the incident as a drive-by shooting, according to court documents.
On June 17, APD released details in connection with the shooting, including a description of the four men described by witnesses.
Tips led police to connect Perez and Antunez-Sanchez to the shooting, court documents show. One of them included a person who said he "feared" Antunez-Sanchez would see the news on the shooting and run, and tried to get him to talk to police.
Tipsters also told police Perez drives a black car, and a black Dodge Durango is registered to the same address where he lives, police said.
Police also used phone records, including information from nearby cell towers, to connect both suspects to the scene.
On June 21, online court records showed Antunez-Sanchez was booked into the Travis County Jail.
Police also indicated in court documents they're investigating similarities between this case and other drive-by shootings in Austin, including ballistic evidence showing a 9mm shell casing found at this scene matches one found after three people were shot March 17 outside a fast food restaurant on Braker Lane. According to the affidavit, one of the suspects is also suspected of being involved in a separate drive-by shooting. All three cases included witness descriptions of dark-colored sedans being involved, court documents said. The suspects in this case do not face any additional charges at this time.