Murder, Christmas Day Robbery Suspect Arrested: Police

Update Dec. 29:

The man suspected of murdering 30-year-old Ebony Sheppard has been brought into custody, according to a press release from the Austin Police Department.

Xavier Lewis, 19, is being accused by the APD of several aggravated robberies on Christmas Day as well as the killing of Sheppard. He was arrested Thursday, Dec. 28, in Pflugerville without incident.

Lewis is being charged with five counts of aggravated robbery, totaling at $500,000 bond, and one count of capital murder, for which a bond has not yet been set.

Original Article:

(Editor's note: the suspect is not in custody, as a previous version of this story said. Additionally, the age of the victim was corrected from 20 years old.)

EAST AUSTIN, TX — A 30-year-old woman was shot in East Austin late Tuesday night and sustained critical injuries, to which she succumbed and was pronounced dead at 12:33 a.m. Wednesday, according to a press release from the Austin Police Department.

Austin police found Ebony Michelle Sheppard, 30, with "obvious trauma to her body." The Austin-Travis County EMS Twitter page said at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday that she had a "critical life threatening gun shot wound" and was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center.

Police were called to 6600 Ed Bluestein Blvd. at that time where she was shot in the parking lot, according to the press release.

The death was ruled a homicide by gunshot wound.

Witnesses told police the shooter may have been wearing a dark hoodie and was seen running away, then quickly drove away in a white sedan. The suspect is in custody, according to KVUE.

Anybody with information about this incident or the suspect is urged to call the Homicide Tip Line at 512-447-3588, or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS, use the CrimeStoppers app, Austin PD's mobile app or by texting "Tip 103" to CRIMES.

Article image via Shutterstock