1 stabbed, killed at North Austin home; suspect in custody

AUSTIN, Texas - One person is dead after a stabbing at a North Austin group home, says the Austin Police Department.

The suspect was arrested for murder.

What we know:

Police said on Dec. 18, around 7:04 a.m., officers responded to a shoot/stab hotshot call in the 11000 block of Bending Bough Trail.

Someone called 911, reporting a disturbance at a group home and that someone had been stabbed, and the suspect had left the house.

When officers arrived, they found a man in his 70s with "obvious trauma to his body" and injuries consistent with stab wounds. He later died from his injuries. 

Police later identified him as Walter Connor, 74.

"With Christmas approaching, I can't begin to understand the pain that these families will feel or are feeling at this moment. Due to the circumstances that have taken place this morning, I will say that we will continue to do whatever we can to figure out who exactly is responsible for this incident, why this happened, and who was involved," Cpl. Jose Mendez of Austin police said.

The investigation showed Connor was stabbed by one of his roommates, 22-year-old Isaiah Jackson. Jackson left the area after the stabbing, but later came back to turn himself in.

Jackson was arrested and charged with murder.

This case is being investigated as Austin's 52nd homicide of 2025.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. 

Local perspective:

Guillermo Heinrichs has lived in the neighborhood for seven years. He says seeing first responders is a common sight at the group home.

"Unfortunately, very usual, like every week. We see police activity or EMS," he said.

He describes a pattern of disruptions at the house. 

"I'm extremely concerned given that I live just behind it. There was an issue the other day when they threw some furniture from their backyard to my backyard. Nobody was hurt or anything, but it was concerning. Yelling, people just fighting on the backyard or sometimes inside the home," he said.

He says the people at the home come and go, and the criminal acts are the most concerning. 

"We know that it caught on fire on purpose, like it wasn't an accident, somebody just lit a fire, and now we have a homicide, so I just don't know what to do," he said.

Heinrichs says he's reached out to Council Member Chito Vela about the issues. 

"I would like to get some regulations there, so that this doesn't happen again," he said.

FOX 7 Austin called the phone number listed for the group home, but they hung up. We also reached out to Council Member Chito Vela's office but haven't heard back. 

Second homicide in five hours for APD

Dig deeper:

This was the second homicide within five hours within relatively the same area, according to APD.

Austin police say that at around 11:20 p.m. on Dec. 17, Austin 911 received a shoot/stab hotshot call in the 11900 block of North I-35, in the Braker Lane/Yager Lane area. The tip said the victim had been shot in the head and the suspects left. 

When officers arrived, they found a man "with very obvious signs of trauma." He later died at the scene. 

An investigation showed that the suspect, 30-year-old Quavone Easley, confronted the victim about stealing his bike. He then shot the victim in the head and left.

Hours later, Easley was arrested for murder. 

This is being investigated as Austin's 51st homicide of 2025.

APD says that at this time, there is no connection between the homicides.

Crime and Public SafetyNorth Austin