AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The investigation into a deadly mass shooting on Austin's Sixth Street earlier this month turned a corner Tuesday, with officials announcing a murder charge against a third suspect, and charges being dropped against two other teenagers arrested last week.
Austin Police interim chief Joseph Chacon and Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza gave an update on the investigation into the June 12 shooting, which killed one person and injured 14 others.
Chacon said a warrant was issued Tuesday morning for 19-year old De'ondre Jermirris White. White is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of 25-year old Douglas John Kantor, with bond set at $1 million.
"Based now upon multiple witness interviews, ballistic evidence, video evidence, and the positions of the suspect - Mr. White - and the victims, we know that White was the person who fired his handgun, striking Mr. Kantor and multiple other victims," said Chacon.
White remains at large and should be considered armed and dangerous. Chacon said that White's handgun has been linked to several other violent crimes, based on ballistic evidence.
Related
Garza said the charges filed against the two other suspects in the case - a deadly conduct charge against a 15-year old juvenile and an aggravated assault charge against 17-year old Jeremiah Tabb - are being dismissed in what Garza calls the "best interests" of the investigation.
"At this point in the investigation, dismissing these charges is what is in the best interest of this investigation, and ensuring that we are able to put forward the best case we can, as we focus on the person who is primarily responsible for the injury and death that took place on Sixth Street," said Garza. "Our office has not made final charging decisions with respect to either young man, or anyone involved in this case for that matter."
Chacon said Tabb and the 15-year old juvenile were part of two rival groups of teenagers from Killeen that ran into each other on Sixth Street, where an argument from earlier in the week escalated into shots being fired. White was a member of the same group as Tabb, Chacon said.
"We respect the DA's decision," said Chacon. "I also want to make sure that people understand that these two individuals were involved. This is not people who were innocent bystanders, or somehow incorrectly identified as being involved in this case. I think that is important for people to understand, and that in the end, these individuals had weapons and might have otherwise done greater harm to our community."
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of White is urged to call 911, or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.