Zachary Townsend

Zachary Townsend, a 35-year-old White man, was shot inside a North Austin business on January 8, 2022. Police were first alerted to the incident by calls reporting gunshots in the 2300 block of Pasadena Drive. A second caller told authorities that a garage door at a business on the block had been left ajar, which seemed suspicious in light of the gunfire.

When officers from the Austin Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Zachary Townsend lying on the ground inside the business. He had sustained gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Ten days later, on January 18, 2022, Townsend died from his injuries.

An autopsy later determined that the official cause of death was a gunshot wound. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide.

The Austin Police Department launched an investigation into Townsend's death. As of January 2022, the case remained ongoing, and investigators were working to identify any probable suspects. Detectives are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers app or by emailing [email protected]. Tipsters may remain anonymous.