4 homicides in 1 week: Austin police give update on investigations
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin police gave an update Tuesday after several homicides happened in the first half of November. Four of those happened within a week of each other.
APD shared details about the city's 58th-62nd homicides of the year. The 59th-62nd happened within a week of each other, between Nov. 10 and Nov. 16.
APD held a press conference Tuesday to "provide overviews and updates" on those incidents.
A summary of each incident and links to previous coverage can be found below.
Nov. 8: 58th homicide of the year
A 20-year-old, identified by police as Matthew Escalante, died in Austin's 58th homicide of the year.
According to police, On Nov. 7, APD responded to reports of a shooting at the 2600 block of Rosewood Avenue. APD said the incident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m.
APD said officers responded to the incident and found Escalante with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital for treatment but died at around 3 p.m. the next day Nov. 8, according to police.
Nov. 10: 59th homicide of the year
One man died in a stabbing at a homeless encampment in the 1900 block of East William Cannon Drive on Nov. 10.
APD released information about the incident on Nov. 14, saying police had responded to a call in the area reporting that a man “was lying on metal rods on the ground, and was bleeding from possible stab wounds."
Police identified the victim as 39-year-old Elijah Martinez. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.
As of Nov. 14, no suspects had been identified, and no arrests had been made, according to police. APD said they are still investigating the cause of the incident and have no further details at this time.
Nov. 13: 60th homicide of the year
One person died and one person was arrested following a stabbing at a gas station on the 7800 block of South First Street in south Austin on Nov. 13.
Police responded to reports of a stabbing at the C-Mart at 7811 S. First St. shortly after 4 p.m. When officers arrived, they found the victim identified as Marco Antonio Nunez-Mayan a Hispanic male on the ground “bleeding from a puncture wound to his chest.”
Mayan was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:08 p.m., according to APD.
APD identified the suspect on Thursday. Police said 32-year-old Luis Marroquin admitted to the stabbing saying it was a "personal disagreement." Marroquin is now facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the stabbing.
APD did not release the identity of the victim.
Nov. 15: 61st homicide of the year
Police found a person dead shortly before 1 a.m. Nov. 15 after responding to reports of gunfire near the 8400 block of Goldfinch Court.
APD released more details surrounding the investigation on Monday, including the identities of the victim and suspect.
Police said Travis Holland, 32, died of an apparent gunshot wound. Police interviewed a female witness who was reported to be walking with the victim at the time and was also shot at but not wounded.
William Bruce, 31, was the brother-in-law of the victim, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection, according to APD.
Nov. 16: 62nd homicide of the year
APD homicide detectives responded to a scene near the 1900 block of Rutland Drive on Saturday morning related to a deceased person.
APD said officers responded shortly after 4 a.m. to reports of gunshots heard at Espero Rutland Apartments. Officers found the victim, Jessica Shaw, with gunshot wounds inside an apartment and attempted lifesaving measures, but APD said the victim died at the scene.
Police announced Monday that 36-year-old Noah Mata was arrested in the incident and that they believe he was fighting with another person over a gun in the neighboring apartment when the gun was fired and hit the woman next door. The man was charged with aggravated robbery.