On June 21, 2024, a disturbance in the 6000 block of South 1st Street resulted in the tragic shooting of Samantha Demuchest, a Black female born on February 4, 1993. According to Austin Police Department officials, neighbors reported hearing a physical altercation in the apartment early that morning, prompting a response from officers.
Shortly thereafter, Irean Demuchest, 34, made a 911 call claiming that her cousin, Samantha, had taken her own life. Responding officers found her severely injured with a gunshot wound. Before being transported to the local hospital, Samantha was able to tell officers that it was Irean, not suicide, who was responsible for her injuries. This incident led to Irean's arrest on the charge of First Degree Aggravated Assault Family Violence with Serious Bodily Injury. Samantha subsequently lived as a paraplegic before succumbing to her injuries on November 12, 2024, transforming the assault charge against Irean into a murder investigation.
The autopsy revealed that Samantha died from complications related to the gunshot wound to her neck, with the manner of death ruled a homicide. As of March 6, Irean Demuchest has been charged with 1st Degree Murder, as reported by the Austin Police Department's latest update. She remains in custody in the Travis County jail.
This case has been rightfully categorized as Austin's 59th homicide of 2024 after the reclassification of a previous death from homicide to accidental. The authorities continue to appeal to the public to come forward with any information, which may be submitted anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers. Informants may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for details leading to an arrest in an effort to ensure justice is fully dispensed in this harrowing case.
