On May 12, the Austin Police Department apprehended Kent Outten, a 33-year-old man, in connection with the murder of Rex Johnson and linked him to another shooting that occurred shortly thereafter. Outten faces murder charges for Johnson's death, which took place on March 31 in the 400 block of N. IH 35, as reported by the official website of the City of Austin.
Rex Johnson was fatally shot in the early hours of that March evening, pronounced dead on April 3 at 1:15 p.m., following a shooting witnessed next to his companion, who was visually impaired, using a cane. The Austin community and the Texas Lone Star Fugitive Task Force were commended for their assistance in the arrest, having identified Outten through engagements with detectives and video surveillance review from a connected incident on April 9, as per the statement released by the Austin Police Department.
During the encounter on March 31, Johnson was reportedly standing beside his blind friend when two assailants, both described as Black males, approached. Following a physical assault that saw Johnson knocked down, one of the suspects shot him, causing injuries that led to his death. According to the City of Austin's press release, the suspects fled east from the scene immediately after the shooting.
The police continued their investigation, which led to Outten's arrest, linking him to a subsequent shooting on April 9 in the 1000 block of East Cesar Chavez. Details of the arrest and the incidents were described on the police department's official YouTube channel, and additional information was gleaned by detectives through witnesses and video evidence. The community, in an effort coordinated by the Austin Police Department, was crucial in providing tips that guided law enforcement officials to the suspect, resulting in the closure of a murderous spree that had unsettled the locality.
As the Austin Police Department maintains the investigation into the city's 12th homicide of the year, the public is still encouraged to come forward with any information related to the crimes. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program, which may offer rewards for assistance leading to further arrests. This case reflects the pertinent collaborative dynamics between public engagement and law enforcement efforts in addressing and solving violent crimes in the community.
