LULAC Offers $10K Reward In Austin Ice Cream Vendor's Killing

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — The League of United Latin American Citizens best known by its acronym LULAC — the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization — is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for the recent killing of an ice cream vendor in North Austin.

Adeliado Berna Beurias, 68, died July 1 while hospitalized after being shot on June 23 at around 3:10 p.m. at a Serene Park Apartments parking lot on Northgate Boulevard, police said in a previous advisory. A well-known fixture as he peddled paletas, Mexican-style ice cream treats, at various neighborhoods. Beurias was pushing his cart through the complex ahead of Independence Day when he was confronted by three men, police said. One of the suspect shot Beurias as the men tried robbing him before fleeing the scene, police added.

Police are still in search of the suspects. In the meantime, the Washington, D.C.-based civil rights group has established reward coffers to help expedite identification of suspects.

Previous coverage: Ice Cream Vendor Shot In North Austin Dies At Hospital

“While America celebrates, the Latino community is grieving and angry today over the brutal, cold-blooded killing in broad daylight of Adelaido Bernabe Urias, a 68-year old man selling paletas from his cart on the streets of one of America’s so-called safest cities," LULAC National President Domingo Garcia said in a prepared statement. "This murder must be answered for and LULAC demands action from Austin police to capture those responsible before they strike again in a neighborhood being terrorized by violence within mere minutes of the Texas Capitol."

LULAC officials called on Austin Crime Stoppers to match their reward "...so that these cowardly murderers who took the life of a husband, father and grandfather making pennies every day to feed his family."

LULAC National Vice President-Southwest Linda Chavez added: “This is the 8th time a street vendor has been the target of violence in the last four months. This is a terrible situation. We want an open investigation and for the Austin police to work hard on this case. The fact that there have been eight attacks and these crimes have not been solved means greater priority has to be given to protect our most vulnerable. The community cries out for justice.”

LULAC State Director-Texas Rudy Rosales echoed the sentiment: “We stand united as LULAC leaders. We are ready, willing and able to meet with Austin Police Chief Brian Manley to get clear answers on what he is doing to stop this open season on our Latino community. Anyone with information should contact Austin Police immediately or LULAC so that Mr. Urias’ death will not have been in vain. Our deepest condolences go to his family and we tell them, LULAC will not allow his murder to go unsolved!"

About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future.

For more information, visit https://lulac.org/