An 18-year-old has been charged with murder in connection to the mass shooting incident that took place during a Juneteenth celebration in Round Rock, Texas. According to a news release from the Round Rock Police Department, Keshawn Dixon faces two counts of murder and 13 counts of aggravated assault after the June 15 event at Old Settlers Park resulted in two deaths and numerous injuries.
Law enforcement has kept Dixon in custody at the Williamson County Jail under a previous charge of deadly conduct before the new charges were leveled against him. As part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting, police disclosed that Dixon had previously been questioned and he admitted to attending the Juneteenth event but was "vague as to his whereabouts" at the time of the shooting, KXAN reports.
Separately, KVUE detailed that Dixon is alleged to have used a "Glock" switch during the shooting, which is a device that can convert semi-automatic weapons to fully automatic, significantly increasing the firearm's rate of fire. Court documents obtained by KVUE reveal that Dixon has an established criminal background and affiliation with gang activity based on his "extensive history" with local law enforcement. These records also mentioned evidence of Dixon brandishing a weapon with a "Glock switch" on social media.
Further complications in the case arise from the investigation as it has unfolded. Witnesses identified Dixon at the scene despite his wearing a ski mask and a hoodie. It has also come to light, as reported by KVUE, that one of Dixon's family members allegedly admitted to his involvement in the shooting. Officials continue to urge witnesses and others with potential insight into the shooting to step forward as the investigation persists.
In addition to Dixon, two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the Round Rock shooting. Ricky Thompson III, another 18-year-old, also faces aggravated assault charges after admitting to discharging his firearm at the event. A second, unidentified juvenile suspect is being detained at the Williamson County Juvenile Justice Center. Both are believed to have played roles in the violent altercation that investigators say stemmed from an ongoing feud between two rap groups. The shooting claimed the lives of two women, who were deemed innocent bystanders, and injured 14 other individuals ranging from 10 to 62 years old, according to authorities.
