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Man possibly shot, killed before crashing truck into Lady Bird Lake, APD says
Austin police say a man was pulled from a truck that went off the road into Lady Bird Lake, and he appeared to have gunshot wounds.
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin police believe a man was shot and killed before crashing a truck into Lady Bird Lake Monday morning.
Police said just after 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 19, officers responded to a call about a truck that went off the road into Lady Bird Lake. Police say the caller also heard gunfire in the area.
Austin-Travis County EMS and the Austin Fire Department found the truck in the water and pulled a man out. He died at the scene.
On Dec. 20, police identified him as 45-year-old Josue Moreno.
Detectives believe the shooting happened during a disturbance from a group of people nearby. Police say Moreno was shot while driving his pickup truck. As a result, he crashed through the bridge's guardrail where West Bouldin Creek meets the Colorado River.
Detectives are still looking for the shooter. Due to the commotion, it's unknown whether Moreno was a part of this group or if the group knew Moreno had been shot.
"Those kinds of things don't happen every day," said Wayne Vincent, retired president of the Austin Police Association. "Police are going to have their hands full."
"Some of the injuries appeared to be consistent with having been struck by gunfire. But at this point in time, we are still working to determine the exact cause of death," said Ofc. Michael Bullock, of the Austin Police Department.
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Austin police provide update about suspicious death in South Austin
Police are investigating the suspicious death of a man who drove off the road into Lady Bird Lake.
Bullock said the truck crashed along an embankment "that runs down into the water," so the truck was only "partially submerged."
Still, he noted it was enough water to complicate the investigation.
"Undoubtedly, it does make it more difficult. You know, having to deal with a partially submerged vehicle does become a challenge for us. But, you know, we have an excellent homicide unit and forensic unit, and they do everything they can to preserve as much evidence to make sure that we have a solid investigation," Ofc. Bullock added.
No one is in custody at this time, and police said they are still looking for the person responsible.
Anyone with any information should contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.