A grisly scene unfolded in South Austin on July 1st, leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Hayden Lerond for the alleged murder of his father, James Lerond. According to KVUE, officers responding to a call discovered the elder Lerond's body with multiple stab wounds.
Witness accounts and evidence at the scene on Windrift Way near West William Cannon Drive and Menchaca Road point to a violent altercation, police were led to the suspect by a trail of bloodied footprints, and the alleged murder weapon, a large silver knife, reportedly seen with Hayden who was also covered in blood, as mentioned in a neighbor’s testimony. FOX 7 Austin additionally noted that Hayden had minor injuries and was hospitalized prior to his booking into the Travis County Jail.
First responders attempted to save James Lerond but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the result of seven severe "sharp force injuries" including a deep slash to his neck that punctured his jugular vein; these details according to autopsy reports as obtained by KVUE. The Austin Police don't currently believe the act was random, with Sgt. Lee Knouse specifying, "We do not feel that this is a random act of violence,” in a statement to FOX 7 Austin.
At this time the motivation behind the stabbing remains unclear detectives have yet to release a motive, and Hayden Lerond, now facing first-degree murder charges, remains detained on a $200,000 bond – this case marking the city's 30th homicide of the year. The Austin Police Department urges anyone with information to come forward and contact them or the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program, where tips leading to an arrest may result in a reward of up to $1,000.
