AUSTIN, Texas — A man has been charged with murder following a homicide investigation near Zilker Park on Monday.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the initial call came in about the crash near Azie Morton Road just before 3:30 p.m. Monday.
When officers arrived, they found a man, identified as 64-year-old James Hough, with signs of trauma in a parking lot. Hough was taken to the hospital where he died just after 4:30 p.m.
Detectives arrived and located 43-year-old Arthur Richter, who had made the initial call. Richter claimed that he had called after an altercation with someone who had left the scene, and the altercation with Hough came afterward.
Police say that Richter assaulted Hough and took his phone before returning to his vehicle. Hough then climbed onto the hood of Richter’s vehicle in an attempt to retrieve the phone.
Richter then allegedly drove out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed and slammed on the brakes, causing Hough to be thrown from the vehicle onto the ground, which led to his death. Richter then left the scene.
A warrant was issued for Richter’s arrest on Feb. 4, and he was arrested by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force on Feb. 5.
This incident is being investigated as Austin’s fifth homicide of 2025.