AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) says a man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in northeast Austin last Thursday, Nov. 7.
The incident happened outside of a Texas Health and Human Services Department building along East U.S. 290, near Calidad Drive. Police say 33-year-old Shelby Wayne Cody was outside the building when the suspect, Levonta Harrison, pulled up in his car.
Police say Harrison didn’t talk to Cody or provoke him – Harrison just got out of his car and started shooting.
Witnesses called 911. Before officers and EMS officials got to the scene, several people tried to save Cody’s life, but medics say he died after he was taken to a hospital.
During a media briefing on Friday, Nov. 15, APD detectives couldn’t say why Harrison targeted Cody, but said Harrison was out on parole at the time.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Harrison on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Police said the community helped investigators find him.
“I’d like to offer my condolences to the family of the victim. I also want to thank the witnesses that came forward in this homicide. Their cooperation and willingness to assist detectives were played a major role in us being able to make an arrest and bring this to a resolution so quickly,” said Eric Fitzgerald, APD’s assistant chief of investigations.
Harrison has a lengthy criminal history. Public records from the Texas Department of Public Safety show he has been in and out of jail over the past decade for a variety of charges, ranging from assault to family violence to felony drug distribution.
He has been booked in the Travis County Jail on two charges, one for murder and one for violating his parole.