Family of woman shot in East Austin apartment complex pleading for answers

A family is grieving over the unexpected death of 30-year-old Ebony Sheppard.

She was at a family gathering at the Sixty 600 apartment complex in East Austin when she went to move her car Tuesday night. “We were going to go out there with her. She said ‘No stay in here and wait until I move the car,” said Janet Harris, Ebony’s mother.

Then that’s when they heard the noise.

“We heard a hollow boom, and my brother was like, that is a gunshot,” said Harris.

Her family walked outside to look for her. “She was laying at the back wheel of her car. Her purse, her keys, her phone, her food she had in her hand, everything was laying right there. She never got a chance to push the button to unlock the car,” said Harris.

Police detained a man witnesses believed was involved, but later released him.

The person who killed Ebony is still out there. “This is what I had to do today...go and prepare to lay my baby to rest for something so senseless,” said Harris, holding up a funeral home brochure.

Friends and family say Ebony was a fun person, who was an artist, and loved the horror movie genre. She met Colleen Hanson at a horror convention. “She was so important to me. so kind. she never had a bad word to say about anybody. She's just a huge part of my life and Andrew's life. We would cook dinner for her every Sunday. Everywhere Andrew and I went we would take Ebony with us. She was just family,” said Hanson.

“She was one of the happiest people you'll ever meet. she was sweet to everyone,” said Michael Scott, Ebony’s brother.

She leaves behind a four-year-old son.

“He looks just like her. Trying to keep myself together for him is difficult,” said Harris.

As they prepare to lay her to rest, they hope someone who saw anything that night, can help them find justice. “Somebody made a grave mistake. Somebody made a major, major mistake when they took Ebony's life,” said Andrea Brown, Ebony’s aunt.

Police say the person who shot Ebony had on a black hoodie and drove off in a white car.

If you know anything, call APD at 512-477-3588.