The grieving family of Camnik Eugene Campbell, a 27-year-old man whose life was cut short by gunfire near Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas, two years ago, continues to search for closure as detectives have yet to make an arrest in the case, FOX 7 Austin reports. Nikki Olton, the victim's mother, recounted the anguish of losing her youngest child, saying, "It was my greatest pain ever." Meanwhile, Camnik's stepfather Alvin Olton, and sister Brielle Doe have echoed the desperate plea for answers, with Doe saying, "We really need that peace."
On the morning of August 25, 2022, Austin police found Campbell's body and a bloodied vehicle with its door ajar, indicating a violent attack, according to Austin Police Department Homicide Detective Israel Pina in a statement obtained by FOX 7 Austin. Campbell, who had moved to Austin to pursue music and was working for DoorDash, released a music video the day before his death, unknown to him that it would be his last, his mother mentioned in grief.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene near the pool early Thursday, following a call about a suspicious car parked, its window shattered by shots, Senior Patrol Officer Demitri Hobbs told reporters, as per KXAN's coverage. The surrounding area, including Zilker Park Playground and the parking lot next to Barton Springs Pool, was sealed off for the investigation, although the pool itself was closed for routine maintenance.
Despite the lack of suspects in custody, Detective Pina has stated that several persons of interest are yet to be ruled out in the ongoing investigation and that APD will welcome any information from the public, especially from park visitors who might be withholding details for fear of repercussions due to park curfew violations, "We 100% do not care about that. We care about the information they may have that might help kind of break the case," Pina mentioned in a statement to FOX 7 Austin.
The unsettling event has spotlighted Austin's growth and the accompanying uptick in violence, with locals expressing their concern yet remaining resolute in their commitment to enjoying the city's green spaces. Matthew Natarajan, a local, told KXAN, "I’m not like flabbergasted that we are starting to see an increase of violent crimes," acknowledging the change in the cityscape while maintaining hope that such incidents remain outliers in a generally safe community.
