AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) has identified a man shot to death in South Austin on April 20.
Just after 11 a.m. on Thursday, officers responded to a homeless encampment in a wooded area behind the Best Buy in the 4900 block of the West US 290 service road, near the Gaines Creek Greenbelt. A man had called 911, reporting that someone stopped him and told him that someone had been shot within the camp.
Officers arrived and located the victim, John Powers. Officers performed life-saving measures, but Powers died at the scene.
Investigators responded to the scene to begin interviewing witnesses. Several persons of interest were identified.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact the APD Homicide Unit tip line at 512-974-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.
This incident is being investigated as Austin's 25th homicide of 2023.