Man Fatally Shot After Knife Altercation with Bystander at Austin Gas Station

A deadly altercation at a Shell gas station on Riverside Dr. has resulted in the death of 37-year-old Marcos Valerio-Rodriguez. CBS Austin reports that the incident, which occurred Thursday evening, began when Valerio-Rodriguez arrived, under the influence, at his girlfriend’s workplace near the gas station.

Authorities, arriving at around 7 p.m., discovered Valerio-Rodriguez with gunshot wounds to his torso in the parking lot of 2001 E. Riverside Drive. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the time police arrived, with an official time of death noted at 7:21 p.m., according to CBS Austin. An argument had ensued outside of the girlfriend’s place of employment, which led to her reentering her workplace while Valerio-Rodriguez departed, only to return later, escalating the situation.

The confrontation took a deadly turn when Valerio-Rodriguez, after a subsequent return to the workplace and banging on the door, brandished a knife at a male bystander who attempted to intervene. In response, the bystander drew a firearm and shot Valerio-Rodriguez, as told by multiple witnesses at the scene. FOX 7 Austin reports that the shooter is cooperating with the investigation.

With the investigation ongoing, police have not filed charges against the gunman, communicating that this appears to be an isolated incident with no further risk to public safety. This case marks the 22nd homicide of the year in Austin, as per FOX 7 Austin. As the investigation proceeds, anyone with potentially relevant information is urged to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS or to submit tips anonymously via the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.