In a somber turn of events, a child has been added to the city's growing list of homicides for the year. The Austin Police Department has confirmed that the young victim, Julian Hernandez, a Hispanic male born on May 22, 2011, was involved in a fatal shooting incident on June 25, in the 12200 block of Kelton Drive, according to a press release stating that the call was received at approximately 11 a.m. that day.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Hernandez in a bedroom with a gunshot wound emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures but the victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital by 12:45 p.m., marking a tragic end to the young life.
Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Specialists were promptly on-site to collect evidence and gather witness testimonies. A family member initially suggested the possibility of the gunshot being self-inflicted, but this theory was not conclusive, a subsequent investigation spanned several weeks, unearthing revelations that altered the course of the inquiry; it emerged that Hernandez's death was the result of an accidental shooting by a relative.
The relative in question has since provided a statement confessing to the accidental shooting, yet as of this report, charges have yet to be laid with the District Attorney's office still reviewing the case, no names have been released as the legal processing continues and the police urge anyone with additional information to come forward and contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS, or anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program, with a potential $1,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest.
This tragic event is now logged as Austin's 35th homicide for the year 2024, reflecting an unsettling trend for the community grappling with the loss of such a young member. The full details are still under review by authorities as this heartbreaking story unfolds.
