In a span of just over a week, the Austin community has been shaken by a series of violent incidents, with the Austin Police Department responding to five homicides across the city. Chief Lisa Davis, who recently took the helm of the department, voiced the urgency and gravity of the situation, declaring, “Any homicide is too much,” according toFOX 7 Austin.
The recent spree began on November 7, when 20-year-old Matthew Escalante was fatally shot in East Austin. The suspect in this case remains at large. Soon after, Shelby Wayne Cody was gunned down outside a state building, the suspect – a convicted felon named Lavonta Harrison who should not have been in possession of a firearm due to his criminal record, and was later arrested and charged with first degree murder. Assistant Chief Eric Fitzgerald emphasized the dedication of the Austin Police Department to making arrests in these cases: “We re going to do our job right and we re going to make those arrests. What happens from there is somewhat out of our control,”Fitzgerald told FOX 7 Austin.
The third and fourth homicides involved Elijah Martinez, who was stabbed at a homeless encampment, and an unnamed man, referred to as Flacco, stabbed at a gas station, respectively. The fifth and most recent homicide occurred early Friday morning in North Austin, with officers discovering a deceased victim following multiple reports of gunfire. This incident brought the city’s count to 61 homicides for the year, a significant increase from the 25 to 30 homicides per year prior to 2020, as noted by Chief Davis in an interview withFOX 7 Austin.
Under Chief Davis’s leadership, the department has pledged to enhance transparency and to expediently share information with the public. After a recent officer-involved shooting, body camera and other surveillance footage was released within six days, a move towards quicker disclosure of details surrounding such incidents. “I think that’s the power of having someone from the outside,” Davis said in a statement regarding the new practices of information dissemination obtained byCBS Austin.
As the city grapples with the uptick in violent crime, Davis is focusing on investigating the sources of the weapons, identifying those committing the homicides, and taking necessary actions to intervene and prevent further violence. The Austin Police Department’s recent escalation in homicide cases puts the spotlight on systemic issues and the need for a robust response to ensure community safety and bring justice to the families affected.
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