A man wanted in the April 2024 killing near Austin's Mueller neighborhood is now in custody hundreds of miles away in Louisiana, where he faces a murder charge tied to the case. Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old Catrailon Trevarius Jarrell, who was arrested in Zachary, La., after what investigators describe as an interstate search. It is the first major break in the investigation since the fatal shooting at an East Austin park last spring.
Arrest followed multi-agency manhunt
According to KVUE, federal marshals arrested Jarrell on March 25 in Zachary and booked him into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. The outlet reports that the U.S. Marshals and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, with help from the Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force, worked together to locate and apprehend him. Austin police had previously secured an arrest warrant for Jarrell on Oct. 15, 2025, according to the station.
What investigators say about the 2024 shooting
The murder charge stems from an April 17, 2024, shooting at Bartholomew District Park near East 51st Street and Berkman Drive, where officers found 23-year-old Tayjay Stephens inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound. Man fatally shot in East Austin park coverage noted that Stephens was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. At the time, investigators called the incident isolated and urged anyone who saw or heard anything to contact police.
Extradition and what comes next
KVUE reports that Jarrell is charged with murder in connection with the 2024 shooting and is expected to be extradited to Texas to face prosecution. Once he is transferred, he is likely to appear for an arraignment in Travis County, although the outlet said no specific court dates had been posted publicly yet. Officials have not released further information about a possible motive or whether additional suspects could face charges.
How fugitive task forces chase suspects across state lines
The arrest highlights how federal and multi-jurisdictional fugitive task forces work together when a suspect crosses state borders. The U.S. Marshals' Lone Star Fugitive Task Force frequently teams up with local agencies on homicide cases, according to a U.S. Marshals press release, pooling investigative tools and intelligence. Coordination between Texas and Louisiana officers helped push this case forward. Austin police and prosecutors say the investigation remains active and that they plan to release more details when new court filings are made.
Legal note
Jarrell has been arrested, not convicted, and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. If he is extradited and prosecuted in Texas, the criminal case will move through the state judicial system and could carry severe penalties if he is convicted. Anyone with information about the 2024 shooting is asked to contact Austin Crime Stoppers or the Austin Police Department Homicide Unit tip line.
