Authorities have charged an Austin man with killing an 18-year-old and wounding his friend early Sunday in what remained of a massive, social media-advertised gathering that drew thousands of people to a few square blocks in the West Side neighborhood.
Paramedics found Kaleb Williams with two gunshot wounds to the back amid hundreds of people in the 5000 block of West Maypole Avenue just after 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Williams’ friend, also 18, told police that someone driving a white car approached them upset about their vehicle’s broken sunroof and began shooting, according to a police report. Williams was pronounced dead shortly afterward at Stroger Hospital. His friend was wounded in the shoulder.
Ortez Owens, 35, was arrested shortly after Williams was killed and faces felony counts of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery, police announced Tuesday.
According to an arrest report, police identified Owens as the driver of a white Toyota Camry, adding that he was captured on video shooting Williams. Owens also took Williams’ backpack, the arrest report alleged. Authorities on Sunday approved a search warrant in connection with Williams’ killing, police sources said.
Earlier that night, six other people were shot, including a 22-year-old woman who died of her wounds. As of Tuesday, police said, no one was in custody for that shooting.
Owens is set to appear in court for a detention hearing Wednesday, police said.
