Police investigating Riverside apartment complex homicide; multiple people detained

Police have detained multiple people in connection with the murder of a man at a Riverside apartment complex on Wednesday morning, though the Austin Police Department did not specify how many people were involved in the man's death.

Officers responded to the Array Apartments, at 2102 Burton Drive, at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after a caller reported a disturbance in the parking lot of the complex, police Cpl. Jose Mendez said at a media briefing. When police arrived, they found a male victim in his 20s with "obvious trauma to his body." The victim was pronounced dead at 10:42 a.m., he said.

Mendez could not confirm if the victim had been shot or stabbed.

Mendez confirmed several people of interest had been detained for further questioning, though no formal charges were announced on Wednesday afternoon. All suspects and witnesses had been cooperating with the investigation, he said.

He could not say for certain whether Wednesday's homicide was connected to the July 18 homicide across the street at the same apartment complex.

"According to officers that work this area and are currently on scene, this is a very high-crime area," Mendez said in response to a reporter's question about the volume of emergency calls in Riverside. "We are very aware of the activity that takes place in this apartment complex. ... I don't know the specifics of the (911) calls, but I know this is a very well-known area to APD."

Residents of the apartment complex told the American-Statesman they were concerned about the uptick in violence and expressed an interest in increased police patrols or security in the area. When asked about residents' concerns, Mendez said the Police Department would provide assistance based on their available resources.

Police believe there is no threat to the general public at this time, but encouraged anyone with information to reach out to the homicide unit at 512-477-3588 or the department's tip line at 512-472-8477.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin police investigating homicide at Riverside apartment complex