AUSTIN, Texas — Two men have been arrested and police are searching for two other suspects after a violent burglary in northeast Austin on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
According to the Austin Police Department, officers responded to an apartment complex at 6407 Springdale Road around 11:53 a.m. after reports of a burglary. Officers arriving on the scene located a victim and witness, as well as a 9mm shell casing.
Investigators say multiple suspects broke into an apartment with a resident inside. The resident hid in a closet and called her boyfriend to come help her, APD said.
Police say at some point during the incident, four burglars were chased away by the victim’s boyfriend.
One of the suspects, 19-year-old Orlen Guillen, allegedly fired a pistol at the boyfriend as he was chasing them on foot. The boyfriend was not injured. The suspects were able to flee the scene before police arrived.
Police say on Dec. 5, they were able to locate the suspect vehicle using a license plate reader and take Guillen into custody.
APD identified another suspect, 20-year-old Nefi Amed Gomez-Lopez, loitering in the parking lot of the apartment complex, still dressed in similar clothing worn during the shooting. Gomez-Lopez allegedly tossed a stolen 9mm pistol from his backpack as police were taking him in custody.
Both suspects were taken to the APD Residential Burglary Unit where they allegedly confessed to detectives.
Detectives searched Guillen’s residence and discovered a cellphone believed to be linked to another suspect, as well as another vehicle believed to be linked to the crime.
Meanwhile, the 9mm shell casing recovered from the scene is believed to be linked to a separate burglary that happened on Nov. 8. At least one suspect has been implicated in that shooting, APD said.
Detectives believe there are still two suspects at large. Anyone with any information is asked to contact APD at 512-974-4941 or email APDBurglaryUnit@austintexas.gov.
