APD Homicide Unit achieves 100% case clearance rate for 2023

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department says its homicide unit has achieved a 100% case clearance rate for 2023.

APD clears 100% of 2023 homicide cases

Big picture view:

APD says this marks the first time this milestone has been reached since 2005, which saw 26 homicides. In comparison, 2023 saw 75 homicides.

The national homicide clearance rate for 2023 was 57.8%.

What they're saying:

"Each of those cases represent a person whose life was taken and a family left searching for justice. To solve every single one of those cases is not only rare, it is exceptional," Police Chief Lisa Davis said. "Solving homicides is not just about arrest, it's about justice. It's about ensuring that families who have lost loved ones receive answers, accountability, and a sense of closure."

Final arrest for 2023

What we know:

APD says the final arrest was made on May 7, in connection with a homicide on Oct. 14, 2023.

Police say that they received a call reporting shots fired at around 2:20 a.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex near East Riverside Drive and Woodland Avenue. 

The victim, identified by police as 50-year-old Feliciano Alvarado-Lajuj, was found by officers with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:43 a.m.

Det. Brice Bishop provided more context to the investigation, saying that "vital evidence" had been secured by two detectives who have since left the unit. 

The case progressed through May 31, 2024 when a ballistics hit came back on the firearm involved in the case. Bishop was then assigned to the case in November 2024, and on Feb. 24, a DNA hit in CODIS helped identify a suspect.

The suspect in this case is 21-year-old Jalen Hemphill, who has been charged with first-degree murder in Alvarado-Lajuj's death. According to Bishop, Hemphill has a significant robbery history and was out on deferred adjudication at the time of the murder.

Bond has been set at $200,000 and Hemphill has also been ordered to not have any firearms and to have a GPS ankle monitor as bond conditions.

Hemphill was booked into the Travis County Jail on May 7 and is still there as of May 13. He is expected to appear in court on May 23.

What they're saying:

APD says looking for suspects with criminal histories who are out of jail is a challenge.

"[Officers] are having to go and find them again. It's putting their safety in jeopardy, having to re-arrest these violent offenders who were often armed, the first time, the second time, so it's absolutely frustrating," Sgt. Nathan Sexton said.

Clearance rates from 2005-2024

By the numbers:

APD says its Homicide Unit has consistently maintained one of the highest clearance rates in the nation. 

Since 2005, only three calendar years' clearance rate dipped below 90%: 2006 at 75%, 2011 at 89% amid 2014 at 81%.

APD has released the clearance rates for 2005 through 2024:

• 2024: 67/71 – 94%
• 2023: 75/75 – 100%
• 2022: 68/71 – 96%
• 2021: 81/90 – 90%
• 2020: 46/48 – 96%
• 2019: 35/37 – 95%
• 2018: 32/35 – 91%
• 2017: 28/30 – 93%
• 2016: 36/40 – 90%
• 2015: 26/28 – 93%
• 2014: 25/31 – 81%
• 2013: 23/25 – 92%
• 2012: 33/34 – 97%
• 2011: 24/27 – 89%
• 2010: 35/38 – 92%
• 2009: 20/22 – 91%
• 2008: 21/23 – 91%
• 2007: 28/30 – 93%
• 2006: 15/20 – 75%
• 2005: 26/26, 100%

APD's keys to success

Dig deeper:

APD says this was a collaborative effort, involving "critical support" from other units, like the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and Tactical Intelligence Unit, patrol officers, the Violent Crimes Task Force, the Narcotics Support Unit, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Aggravated Assault Unit.

APD also credited the assistance of other law enforcement partners, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and other departments.

APD added that a number of factors also contributed to this "historic clearance rate":

• Public Assistance: Tips played a pivotal role in solving several cases
• More Resources and Training: The addition of more detectives, continuing education in technology and investigative strategies
• Advanced Technology: Improved access to forensic tools, DNA processing, and digital evidence recovery
• Detective Dedication: APD says its Homicide personnel are "selfless in their sacrifice and commitment to bringing closure to the victims of these tragic crimes"

"Some of these cases could not have been solved without the eyes, ears, and courage of people coming forward," Davis said.

What's next:

For families of other homicide victims who are still waiting for answers, APD says they continue to work those cases. There is no statute of limitations on murder. 

"Those victims are not forgotten," Sexton said.

"We are sending a message that we will not allow violence to go unanswered and unchecked in the city of Austin," Davis said.

Each of the arrests in the 2023 homicides still has to go through the court system.

"It looks like just over half the cases from 2023 have had some sort of adjudication, but obviously still the other half are still out there. It's a process and it takes time, unfortunately sometimes years," Sexton said.

Crime and Public SafetyAustin