Regional SWPL Capital Austin “Swamped with Homicides This Year”; Interestingly, All of the Victims are Hispanic

Re-posted by Nicholas Stix

Thanks to reader-researcher RC for the sendalong.
 

Austin police swamped with homicides this year
By Shelton Green and photojournalist Matt Olsen
Follow: @SheltonG_KVUE
Posted on January 20, 2014 at 10:10 P.M.
Updated yesterday at 10:21 P.M.
KVUE News/kvue.com

AUSTIN – Just three weeks into 2014, Austin has seen three homicides.

Last year, the city didn't see its first homicide of the year until the middle of February, according to Sergeant Brian Miller with APD's Homicide Unit.

On Monday afternoon, Miller updated members of the media about the latest two homicides.

On Jan. 4, a man [Michael Chavez, 18; see story below] was shot and killed in his home on Porsche Lane in South Austin [in a gang hit].

On Jan. 18, 34-year-old Felix Quintanilla died from wounds he received four days earlier at his home at 604 Swanson cove in southwest Austin [in a drug rip-off].

Austin police have also identified the man whose body was found in the 8500 block of Old Manor Road around 6:30 a.m. Sunday as 36-year-old Robert Morales Jr.

Morales, the father of a 16-year-old girl, worked for his father's construction company, family members said.

“He was somebody who had a family that cared for him, and they left him thrown on the side of the road like garbage, like he was a dog, but he had somebody who cared for him,” said Veronica Morales, Robert's sister.

Austin Police told KVUE that detectives were questioning a few people in the Morales murder. Investigators want to hear from any witnesses who may have seen Morales anytime before Sunday morning.

Anyone with information in any of this year’s homicides are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS. You can remain anonymous, and any tip leading to an arrest or conviction could mean a reward of up to $1,000.
 

Police ID man killed in first homicide of 2014
By KVUE.com
kvue.com
Posted on January 6, 2014 at 3:39 P.M.

AUSTIN -- Police have released the name of a man shot and killed over the weekend.

Police say Michael Chavez, 18, was found shot inside a home in the 5600 block of Porsche Lane just before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4. There were several others inside the home at the time, but no one else was hurt.

Police are still searching for two vehicles, including a four-door dark colored sedan and a mid to late-90s shiny emerald green and teal Cadillac (possible a Cadillac DeVille).

Police believe someone came into the home, shot Chavez, and left in those vehicles. Witnesses tell police there were several cars and they sped off down nearby Honey Dew lane.

"As far as the public safety goes we have enough information on scene that leads us to believe this is not a random act so as far as to the fear of something like this happening again to a stranger," Sgt. Anthony Hipolito with the Austin Police Department said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" including your message to CRIMES.

This is Austin's first homicide of 2014.