One man is dead following a shooting at a Southeast Austin apartment complex.
It happened just before 3 a.m. Sunday morning at the Longhorn Landing Apartments located in the 4700 block of Riverside Drive.
Officers with the Austin Police Department say the victim is Joseph Russo. He was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge where he was pronounced dead. Police have not released any information on the identity of the victim until next of kin have been notified.
No word yet on who pulled the trigger, but that gunman was still on the loose Sunday night; that has some college students who leave nearby on edge
“It was one shot, real loud. I knew it was gunfire because firecrackers don't sound that loud,” neighbor Fabian Miller said.
Fabian Miller heard the gunfire and watched from his window as police combed for clues.
“This one is shocking in Longhorn Landing because we usually have good security and it's usually nothing going on like that with shootings. But around the Riverside area, this is nothing new,” Miller added.
This apartment complex, which caters to college students, turned into a crime scene overnight.
“This morning, came home, a detective came and asked me if I knew anything I was just surprised,” said Joe Garcia, who lives in the area.
News of the murder, unnerving to some, say crime can be a big problem along East Riverside Drive.
“We're just gonna keep our door locked and not just party with everybody because everything you do, people are watching, you don't know what's going on, its Riverside,” Miller said.
Some students plan to play it safe.
“Definitely keep the place locked, I normally come out in the middle of the night to take the dog out, so I’ll be more careful definitely,” Garcia said.
The case remains under investigation and police are asking anyone with information to call the homicide tip line at 477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 472-8477 (TIPS).
This is the first homicide of 2009 in Austin.
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