Hector Guajardo-Garcia, 23, was shot in the parking lot of a shopping center at 9616 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin on November 23, 2017 at about 11:40 p.m. Witnesses said an SUV pulled up, Guajardo-Garcia and another person approached the vehicle, and multiple gunshots were heard. He was taken first to North Austin Medical Center, then flown to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He died of gunshot trauma on December 6, 2017 and the death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators linked the shooting to an earlier altercation between Guajardo-Garcia and 23-year-old Samuel Charlez over a narcotics transaction in which Charlez reportedly had robbed Guajardo-Garcia. Charlez was arrested on November 30, 2017 on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; those charges were expected to be upgraded after Guajardo-Garcia’s death. Witnesses said the shooter drove slowly past the scene with the windows down after the shooting.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department Homicide Tip Line or Crime Stoppers.