An 18-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder after a birthday party turned deadly in East Austin last year, authorities say. The incident, which occurred on November 25, resulted in the death of a 16-year-old and left another teen injured. Police allege that Andrew Dominic Aviles was the gunman in the fatal shooting, which unfolded in the 2500 block of Sol Wilson Avenue.
According to KXAN, the situation escalated when a group of "unwanted" guests arrived at the party, leading to a confrontation. The affidavit reveals that after being asked to leave, the group returned brandishing firearms. Shots were fired as the 16-year-old victim and others stepped outside "presumably to confront" the unwelcome visitors, and in the chaos that ensued, two teens were shot, one fatally. Aviles was arrested by the U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in a coordinated sting in Elgin, on Jan. 10.
The arrest followed a fugitive investigation when Aviles was spotted and subsequently surrounded by officers in the 500 block of East Fourth Street, in Elgin. The operation resulted in his apprehension without further violent incident, as narrated by FOX7 Austin. Aviles is accused of murdering Patrick Valadez, 16, and wounding another juvenile at what was supposed to be a celebratory gathering.
At present, Aviles remains behind bars in Travis County jail, his bond set at $750,000. During the investigation, upon his apprehension, Aviles conceded to being at the party and admitted to having handled a firearm while there. However, no statement from Aviles' attorney has been forthcoming as of yet. The case remains ongoing, with local authorities and residents grappling with the senseless violence that shattered a community celebration. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings are expected to cast a long shadow, as the young lives caught in the crossfire bear witness to the toll of gun violence in our streets.
