A months-old East Austin homicide case has taken a sharp turn, with police arresting a second suspect on May 3, 2026, in connection with a November 2024 shooting on Rosewood Avenue that left 20-year-old Matthew Escalante dead the following day. Detectives say a trail of digital breadcrumbs helped them zero in on 21-year-old Elijah Rivera, who is now booked on a first-degree murder charge.
Charge and Arrest
According to KXAN, investigators secured an arrest warrant after an affidavit detailed evidence allegedly tying Rivera to the deadly shooting. The filing states Rivera was in the 2600 block of Rosewood Avenue around the time gunfire broke out and lays out the first-degree murder allegation against him. Authorities have not released further information on the circumstances of the arrest or whether additional charges could follow.
The Victim and the Scene
In a press release, the City of Austin said the shooting happened on the 2600 block of Rosewood Avenue on November 7, 2024. Escalante, the victim in the case, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead on November 8. City officials classified the killing as Austin’s 58th homicide of 2024 and urged anyone with information to contact police. The city noted that tips that help investigators could qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.
Digital Evidence Investigators Cite
Documents described in KXAN reporting say location data placed Rivera at or near the Rosewood Avenue scene when the shooting occurred. The same records say messages from a Meta account, sent two days after the killing, asked if anyone was interested in buying a Glock 43. Court paperwork cited in that reporting notes the Glock 43 is a 9mm firearm, the same caliber investigators say was recovered at the scene. Those details in the affidavit are identified as key pieces of evidence used to obtain the arrest warrant.
Legal Background
Public records from Travis County show Rivera previously received deferred adjudication in two sentencings in January. Local filings also indicate that applications to revoke those probations were submitted on May 1. Deferred adjudication is a type of probationary outcome that can keep a formal conviction off a defendant’s record if all court-ordered conditions are successfully completed. Rivera remains presumed innocent as the case moves through the legal system and is expected to have initial hearings scheduled in county court.
How to Help Investigators
Authorities are still asking for help from the community. Anyone with information about the Rosewood Avenue shooting is urged to call APD at 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip to Capital Area Crime Stoppers, according to the city’s release. Detectives say community tips could be crucial as they continue piecing together what happened that night.
