Police looking for leads as Barton Springs homicide investigation continues
AUSTIN, Texas - It's been about three months since Camnik Eugene Campbell was found shot to death in a parking lot in Barton Springs.
The Austin Police Department says it is looking for new leads as it continues to investigate and look for whoever was responsible for Campbell's death.
27-year-old Campbell was an athlete, musician, and a DoorDash driver. He was shot to death in the parking lot of Austin’s Barton Springs Pool on August 25.
His body was discovered around 5 a.m. outside his vehicle. The car was riddled with bullets.
"If you know something, say something. If you’ve heard something, please say something," said Camnik Campbell’s mother Nikki Olton.
Olton was among a dozen family members who gathered Monday afternoon alongside the lead detective investigating Campbell’s murder, urging witnesses to come forward.
"I know someone out there knows something about what happened," said Det. Israel Pina of the Austin Police Department. "Do the right thing."
"This was some senseless crime, and I’m praying for justice, but that justice would probably be accelerated if someone was out there and could say something because they know something," said Olton.
Campbell was born in New Mexico. He grew up in the Houston suburbs of Alief and Richmond, Texas. He attended East Central University in Oklahoma where he set a single-season record for tackles as a linebacker.
"I’ve dug and dug and dug into this young man’s life and I can’t find anything that would lead me to suspect that he was up to anything bad other than just being a human being in a park. And that’s it. This is a true victim that we have here," said Pina.
So far detectives have gotten just two tips, and surveillance video has yielded few clues, but they say there were several cars in that parking lot in those early morning hours, and believe the people in those cars could lead to a break in the case.
"Some people may be hesitant to come forward with information out of fear of a park curfew violation. I can assure you that is not the focus of this investigation," said Pina.
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Campbell’s mother, Nikki Olton, told FOX 7 Austin her son was the youngest of 5.
"I want to like embrace [his son.] This is my second opportunity because the finality of death. You have to try to get used to a new life. I'm never able to hug my son again. And that was probably one of the hardest things on this side of eternity. I'll never be able to hear him laugh or see his smile and all the joy that he did bring… With the baby being here, I'm going to embrace that. Not out of emotion, but I want to do what Camnik would have wanted."
Olton told FOX 7 Austin she would like to sit down with the person or people responsible for her son’s death.
"I just want anyone who is out there who may know something, who may have some information leading to what may have possibly happened to Camnik, who did this to Camnik, why it may have been done to Camnik," said Olton. "Please reach out."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Austin Police: 512-472-TIPS (8477 or 800-893-TIPS (8477)
Both Olton and Ramos-Campbell have started GoFundMe campaigns.