An early morning distress call on December 10 spiraled into a homicide case as Austin Police Department officers rushed to the 600 block of Congress Avenue, where they discovered Jeffery Lewis with fatal stab wounds, a statement provided by APD confirmed. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Lewis succumbed to his injuries, marking a grim close to his encounter on that sidewalk, according to the Austin Police Department.
Witnesses at the scene played a pivotal role in the rapid turn of events—identifying Hilario Adrian as the assailant, he was detained by the police and, under interrogation, he owned up to the attack on Lewis.
The case took a darker hue as investigators uncovered Adrian's fraught history with the law, revealing that at the time of the stabbing, he was out on bond for a separate aggravated assault charge, a revelation that puts into question the efficacy of pre-trial arrangements that allowed a potentially violent individual back onto the street. In light of his confession and criminal record, Adrian finds himself facing charges of 1st-degree felony murder, as stated by the Austin Police Department.
Anyone with any information should contact APD's Homicide unit at 512-974-TIPS or email [email protected]. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest, as per Austin Police Department.
