A juvenile has been apprehended by the U.S. Marshals in correlation with the shooting death of 19-year-old Victor Ekozeme near Manor, as reported by CBS Austin. The arrest, made on Tuesday without any reported complications, took place in the 14500 block of Heartland Drive by the members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. Authorities have not disclosed the name of the juvenile due to their age, yet they face murder charges.
Adding to the arrests, 18-year-old Bill Tarlue Nyanway was taken into custody and is charged with a third-degree felony for tampering with evidence, as detailed by CBS Austin. Arrested on Monday, Nyanway is presently held in Travis County Jail, his bond set at $20,000. The charges follow the untimely demise of Ekozeme, who was fatally shot while inside his vehicle at an apartment complex in the 10200 block of Wildhorse Ranch Trail. Struck by gunfire, Ekozeme tried escaping but eventually crashed his vehicle into a ditch near Manor Excel Academy.
The shooting occurred on January 24, described by Austin police as an isolated incident targeting Ekozeme specifically. After being hit, Ekozeme and his passenger, both injured, managed to drive away from the site of the shooting. Tragically, Ekozeme succumbed to his injuries at the crash site, becoming Austin's fourth homicide of the year, according to KVUE. His passenger, who also suffered gunshot wounds, received treatment at a hospital and was released the same day.
Authorities have been investigating the motive behind the shooting, which remains unclear, and Austin police believe it was no haphazard crime of chance. "Police said they believe the victims were specifically targeted," tells the report from CBS Austin. In the wake of these arrests, the community around Manor contemplates the violence that claimed the young life of Victor Ekozeme.
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