City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: APD Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
UPDATE:
Arrested: Zacariah Mechi Lopez, Hispanic male, 01/11/1999
On March 8, 2022, the Lonestar Fugitive Task Force arrested Zacariah Lopez on a 1st Degree Murder warrant in the 1000 block of Park Plaza. Lopez was booked into the Travis County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
ORIGINAL RELEASE:
Case: 22-0660848
Date: Monday, March 7, 2022
Time: 2:02 p.m.
Location: 4400 Blk. of E. Riverside Dr.
Deceased: Jesse Robert Hernandez, Hispanic male, 05/10/1997
The Austin Police Department (APD) has identified Jesse Hernandez as the victim of the homicide in the 4400 block of E. Riverside Dr.
On Monday, March 7, 2022, at approximately 2:02 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a shoot/stab hot shot call that occurred under the bridge in the 4400 blk. of E. Riverside Dr. APD officers and EMS responded to the scene and located a male victim on the ground with trauma to his body. Despite life-saving measures, the male was pronounced deceased at 2:18 p.m. by Dr. Miller.
Homicide detectives and crime scene specialists responded to process the scene. According to witness interviews, a male was observed running from the scene immediately after the incident occurred. The suspect was seen leaving in a dark SUV.
Description of suspect's clothing:
- Orange baseball cap
- Large tan jacket with a hoodie
- Black pants
On March 8, 2022, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s conducted an autopsy and determined the official manner of death as a homicide.
Detectives are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS; the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477 (TIPS), use the Crime Stoppers app, or email 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.
This is being investigated as Austin's 16th homicide of 2022.