Police identify homicide victim, search continues for suspect(s)

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - The Austin Police Department has identified the victim killed in the early morning of Sunday, June 23 as 32-year-old Guillermo Bernal Gomez. 

According to police, officers were dispatched to the grounds of an apartment complex in the 3600 block of Southridge Drive around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 23. When officers arrived on scene, they found Gomez deceased with injuries 'incompatible with life.

"It looked like somebody had broken a glass bottle on him and he had shots in the head and the chest," said Mayra Hernandez who lives in an apartment right next to the crime scene at Bainbridge Villas.  

"First there was one gunshot and then we heard like three or four more. And then we opened the window and I saw a guy running with a flashlight so we knew something had happened there," Hernandez added. 

APD is speaking with witnesses and looking for more information. The Travis County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy in the near future to determine cause and manner of death. Detectives are also still trying to determine if this homicide was random or if the victim knew his assailant.

We don't know if this was random. We don't know if the person who killed Mr. Bernal knew him," said Sgt. Eric De Los Santos with Austin Police Department's homicide unit.   

"We all have to exercise caution, be aware of our surroundings, until we can get this one figured out," De Los Santos said.  

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" + your message to CRIMES or use the new Crime Stoppers App or email APD Homicide at homicide.apd@austintexas.gov.

You may remain anonymous.

You can also submit tips by downloading APD's mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.