The city of Austin is grappling with a rise in violent incidents as the Austin Police Department investigates two separate incidents in southeast Austin, with one resulting in the city's 34th homicide this year. KXAN reported that one person was shot on Wednesday evening near East Riverside Drive and South Interstate 35 northbound frontage road. Officers responded before 9:15 p.m., and the victim was quickly transported to a hospital for treatment.
#ATXtraffic Austin Police Department (APD) officers are on scene of an incident at S. IH35 Northbound frontage and E. Riverside Dr. The northbound frontage is closed at Sunny Vale St. and the Riverside exit is closed. Expect delays and plan alternate routes WC4
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) July 18, 2024
Compounding the community's concerns, a man was found with serious injuries early Thursday morning at the Array Apartments on the 2000 block of Burton Dr. Recorded at just after 2 a.m., arriving officers attempted lifesaving measures, but the man was proclaimed dead around 2:26 a.m., adding to the city's growing homicide count. According to KVUE, the investigation is being handled by homicide detectives and APD detectives are still piecing together the events leading up to the man's unfortunate death.
While the earlier shooting saw road closures, including the northbound frontage at Sunnyvale Street and the Riverside Drive exit, the roads were reported open as of Thursday morning. Police remain in search of information and have made appeals to the public for assistance.
Regarding the homicide, the Austin Police Department is urging any individuals with information to come forward. They may call APD's Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588 or reach out to APD Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477 in an effort to aid in the ongoing investigation. While details surrounding the incidents are still limited, the police's commitment to uncovering the truth has been adamantly expressed in both cases.
