A deadly burglary turned into a double homicide in an Austin neighborhood earlier this month. Austin Police Department (APD) responded to a burglary in progress in the 5300 block of Austral Loop on the evening of December 5, after the homeowner, alarmed by a security system notification, witnessed a man kicking in his back door via camera feed.
The first officer on site engaged the suspect, James Shane, in the homeowner's backyard, resulting in a violent confrontation during which the officer was shot and injured. Despite his injury, Shane managed to steal a vehicle from the residence and take off, only to be caught by authorities after crashing at the intersection of FM 1826 and SH 45, as reported by the Austin Police Department's official release.
Inside the residence officers made a grisly discovery, Katherine Short and her sister Lauren had been shot, and both women were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident, which APD detectives are investigating with the help of crime scene specialists, marked the 69th and 70th homicides in Austin for the year 2023.
Authorities have since charged Shane with capital murder in connection to the deaths of the Short sisters. Anyone with additional information is urged to reach out to APD's Homicide unit at 512-974-TIPS, email [email protected], or anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.
