APD makes arrest related to suspicious death near I-35

The Austin Police Department has arrested and charged a man with the shooting death of Dedrick Earl. He was the victim of the suspicious death that APD was investigating near I-35 on Wednesday. 

On Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at approximately 2:40 p.m., Austin Police Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex located at 8800 N. I.H.-35 in reference to a disturbance between neighbors that resulted in a black male being shot. Travis County Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 3:11 pm.

The person identified as calling in the original disturbance to 911 and for shooting the victim was 47-year-old Melvin Stephens. After interviewing witnesses and Stephens, Homicide Detectives arrested and booked him into the Travis County Jail for Murder, a 1st Degree Felony.

Bond was set at $125,000.

On November 17, 2016 an autopsy was performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office and the manner of death ruled homicide.

Detectives are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to call the Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" + your message to CRIMES. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Andriod