Police ID Woman Shot Dead In Monday Night East Austin Shooting [UPDATED]

EAST AUSTIN, TX -- Police on Tuesday identified the woman who was shot dead in East Austin yesterday.

The victim was identified as Maria Ferrer-Mena, who was 39 years old. Police responding to the 8500 block of Wellington Drive shortly before 10 p.m. on June 13 found Mena lying on her back with obvious trauma to her head, according to a police statement released Tuesday afternoon.

Mena was pronounced dead at the scene by 10:06 p.m., and a subsequent autopsy by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a homicide, the cause of death a gunshot wound.

Police continue to search for a suspect in the case, described only as a HIspanic male with a light complexion standing between 5' 8" to 6' tall of skinny build. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie sweatshirt and black basketball shorts, police said.

The suspect has yet to be identified, and detectives urge anyone with any information regarding the incident or his whereabouts to call the Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" + your message to CRIMES. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.Lt. Newsom will be available for interviews regarding this incident at 3 p.m. at APD Headquarters.

Police noted this was the 10th murder to occur in Austin so far this year.

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From June 13:

EAST AUSTIN, TX -- A Hispanic woman in her 40s is dead after a Monday night shooting in East Austin, emergency officials said.

Austin-Travis County EMS reported to calls of the shooting t the 5800 block of Wellington Drive just before 10 p.m. on Monday, June 13. By the time they arrived, they found the victim dead at the scene.

At a subsequent press brieifing, police spokesman said numerous calls were about the shooting beginning at 9:47 p.m. reporting the shooting at an apartment complex once named Wellington Palms Apartments that has undergone a name change to Mueller Place.

The spokesman said a search for a suspect was under way, and people are urged to avoid the area while the search continues although streets remained open for area residents.

The spokesman didn't disclose if police knew who the suspect is or if he and the victim knew each other. He also declined to say if the death was caused by a single or multiple shots, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

He described the apartment residents as a close-knit Hispanic community, and urged anyone that may have information on what was classified as a homicide investigation to step forward and contact police.

The investigation scene was expected to remain active for at least two hours after the incident, the police spokesman said.