Austin Police ID Suspect, Victim In Mother's Day Shooting Incident [UPDATED]

NORTH AUSTIN, TX -- Police have released the names of an alleged shooter and his dead victim in an incident that took place on Sunday.

The shooting left three people with injuries, one of them sustaining mortal injuries. The shooting occurred May 8 at about 2:38 p.m. in the 8600 block of North Lamar Boulevard. Upon arrival, police found three people with shotgun wounds -- two later transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge and the third pronounced dead at the scene.

The dead victim was identified as Rigoberto Jose Castillo, who was 39 years old.

The suspect fled before police arrived. But a witness later provided the the license plate number to the suspect's vehicle, leading cops to the registered owner's address in the 10100 block of Floyd Drive, according to a police advisory.

Several people were found at that address, including the suspect, police added.

The victim's death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy was performed.

The suspect was identified as Osiel Benitez Benitez, 42. He was arrested on a murder charge and is currently at the Travis County Jail under a $225,000 bond.

Police ask anyone with information related to the incident to call the Homicide Tip Line at (512) 477-3588. Tipsters also can call Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS or by texting "Tip 103" and messaging to CRIMES.

Police noted that tips also can be submitted by downloading the Austin Police Department mobile app, Austin PD. The app is can be downloaded free of charge on iPhone and Android.

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From May 8:

NORTH AUSTIN, TX -- An early Sunday shooting incident has left one man dead and three women injured in North Austin.

The incident occurred at 2:28 a.m. in the 8600 block of Lamar Boulevard, said Destiny Winston, a police officer who briefed reporters near the scene after the incident.

She had few details, citing the early nature of the investigation -- including the number of people injured. The officer also didn't disclose whether the two men involved might have known each other; whether police know who the suspect is; a physical description of the custody; a description of the vehicle in which he fled; among other unknown details.

But Winston did say no one was yet in custody.

"Two male subjects were involved in a physical altercation," she said. "During the physical altercation, a firearm was displayed. One male subject then left in a vehicle; the other male subject was pronounced deceased."

She noted there were other injuries, but said she didn't know the number of people sent to the hospital.

However, Austin-Travis County EMS officials separately disclosed that three women were hospitalized stemming from the incident. EMS officials provided such details as per their custom of tweeting the public on their activities.

The dead man was in his 30s, EMS officials confirmed.

The incident occurred near the intersection of Lamar Boulevard and Payton Gin Road, where three ambulances were dispatched to tend to four patients total, EMS officials said.

A woman in her 20s was transported to University Medical Center with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries, while another two women were transported to the same hospital with less serious injuries, EMS officials said.

Officer Winston noted the incident is still under investigation, and the parking lot where the incident occurred would be closed for several hours as investigators study the scene. Anyone with information should contact the Austin Police Department's homicide unit at (512) 974-5210.

This is the second shooting in as many days in North Austin. On Saturday (May 7) a shooting in the 8800 block of Research Boulevard left two men seriously injured. That shooting occurred in broad daylight -- unlike Sunday's shooting in the wee hours of the morning -- at about 4 p.m.

The two injured men in Saturday's shooting incident, both in their 20s, were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge with wounds EMS officials categorized as serious.

Police also had few details in that incident -- including a description of the suspect and the vehicle in which he fled. Law enforcement officials have yet to update the public into whether they have detained a suspect in the earlier shooting or provide an update on the condition of the two injured men.