In the early hours of a chilly January morning, a shooting at a Citgo gas station in Austin resulted in the city's third homicide of the year. According to a press release by the Austin Police Department, officers received a call reporting a shooting at 717 East 7th Street. Upon arriving at 3:02 a.m., they found Chivalos Lockett, a 23-year-old Black male, unresponsive in the passenger seat of a black vehicle.
Detectives at the scene quickly identified and detained the suspect, Zion Singleton, a 25-year-old Black male. Singleton, a documented gang member, was later arrested for First Degree Murder—despite being legally barred from possessing a firearm. After being taken to a local hospital, Lockett succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 3:24 a.m. While processing the crime scene, specialists interviewed witnesses who saw Singleton parked at the gas station for an extended period before the shooting occurred.
The Austin Police Department has urged anyone with additional information to come forward. Tipsters can contact the department at 512-974-TIPS, or submit information anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program. Those who offer details that lead to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
As the investigation is still ongoing, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Singleton, after having shot Mr. Lockett, exited the black vehicle without providing a statement to police officers on the scene.
