AUSTIN, Texas — A new person of interest has been identified in a deadly shooting in North Austin.
Police have already arrested 36-year-old Noah Mata as a suspect in the death of 46-year-old Jessica Shaw. However, Mata was only charged with aggravated robbery in the incident because police said he didn't fire the gun.
Now, Austin police are searching for a man they describe as being in his late 20s or early 30s and weighing between 240 and 260 pounds. He's about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with long dark hair, a mustache and a goatee.
But while police search for the new person of interest, questions remain about Mata after court records show he's had 40 cases in Travis County alone, 10 of which were felonies.
"A known drug user who runs from officers, lies to them and has a history of driving while intoxicated," Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock said. "Yet our prosecutors decided he kept needing additional chances. Now a woman is dead."
Police said Shaw was experiencing homelessness and visiting a friend when she was tragically killed on Nov. 16. Mata was allegedly taking a picture of the gun before he tried to take it, which led to a fight and two men wrestling for control of the weapon.
Police said a man then fired the gun at Mata in self-defense, but missed and shot through the apartment, hitting Shaw in the chest next door as she watched television.
Prosecutors only charged Mata with felony aggravated robbery for allegedly setting off the chain of events. He's being held in Travis County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
Meanwhile, Shaw's death is being investigated as Austin's 62nd homicide of 2024. Anyone with information on the shooting or the new person of interest should contact police at 512-974-TIPS or call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.
