AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) has made an arrest after a man was shot and killed at a gas station in South Austin on Wednesday evening, Feb. 23.
The APD said the incident happened at a Murphy gas station near 710 E. Ben White Blvd., which is next to a Walmart.
Officers responded to a call reporting the incident just after 5 p.m., according to APD Public Information Officer Jose Mendez. The caller said they heard gunshots and that a man was seen laying on the ground near one of the gas pumps. Witnesses reported seeing a silver or grey four-door sedan speeding off toward the frontage road of E. Ben White.
Officers arrived on the scene and found a man with a gunshot wound to the chest and began life-saving measures. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:19 p.m. It was unclear if the man was shot once or multiple times.
On Friday, the victim was identified as 24-year-old Jacob Andrew Turner. His death was ruled a homicide by gunshot wounds.
Sevon Herman Randle, 19, was arrested and charged with capital murder for Turner's death. He was booked in the Travis County Jail on a $1 million bond.
According to an arrest warrant in the case, the murder happened during a drug deal between Randle and Turner where Randle was looking to purchase Oxycodone pills from Turner. Randle reportedly offered a low estimate, which Turner declined.
Randle then pulled out a handgun and demanded Turner hand over the pills. In an attempt to defuse the situation Turner put his hand up. Randle then shot and killed him.
Randle, a passenger in the car, then told the driver to "take off." Randle and his friend, who spoke with authorities regarding the incident, abandoned the Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot of the Bel-Air Motel on 3400 S. Congress Ave. The two then left.
Investigators connected Randle with the crime through his friend, who police identified via call logs on Turner's phone. His friend was first charged with the murder after investigators spoke with the owner of the Mercedes that Randle and his friend had borrowed.
Through speaking with the first suspect, investigators concluded it was Randle and not his friend who had shot and killed Turner although Randle's friend had originally lied, saying he was not there when Turner was killed.
A criminal history check on Randle found that he had arrests in 2021 for harboring a runaway child, resisting arrest, search or transport and unlawful carrying of weapon.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact APD at 512-477-3588 or call crime stoppers at 512-472-8477.
The shooting death is being investigated as Austin's 13th homicide of 2022.
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