On the evening of November 7, the Austin neighborhood of Rosewood Avenue became the site of tragic violence that claimed the life of a young man. In a statement released by City of Austin, the Austin Police Department reported responding to a shooting at approximately 4:34 p.m. in the 2600 block of Rosewood Avenue. Upon arrival, the officers discovered Matthew Escalante, a Hispanic male born on May 4, 2004, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was quickly transported to a local hospital but, despite medical efforts, was pronounced deceased the following day at 3:20 p.m.
The incident is currently the subject of an ongoing homicide investigation as detectives seek to piece together the circumstances leading up to the shooting. It was revealed that Matthew Escalante had gone there to meet someone before he was fatally shot. The unidentified suspect was described to have fled the scene with additional suspects. Members of the community are now being urged to come forward with any relevant information that might help to swiftly apprehend those responsible. A reward up to $1,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest, an effort to encourage witnesses to break the code of silence that so often shrouds such acts of violence.
According to the Austin Police Department official release, homicide detectives and crime scene specialists were dispatched to the scene to conduct interviews and collect evidence. As the 58th homicide of the year, this case adds to a growing tally that reflects the grim reality of urban violence.
The Austin Police Department continues to ask anyone with information about the suspects to immediately come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program either online at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. The community's cooperation is paramount in efforts to not just solve this case but also to possibly prevent future tragedies. Knowing that real change can only begin with collective action, the APD hopes the reward will potentially motivate witnesses to step forward and to share what they know.
