Case:               21-0370304
 
Date:               Saturday, February 6, 2021
 
Time:               5:39 a.m.
 
Location:         7100 block of N. IH-35 Svrd SB
 
Victim:            Rafael Solorzano Sanchez | Hispanic male | 11/4/1998
 
At approximately 5:39 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2021, Austin 911 received a report of shots fired in the 7100 block of N. IH-35 Svrd SB. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim, Rafael Solorzano, inside a white Ford SUV that appeared to have crashed into a chain-link fence.
 
The officers immediately removed Mr. Solorzano from the driver’s seat and began providing medical care. Austin-Travis County EMS arrived on scene and took over. Rafael Solorzano was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas where he was pronounced deceased at 6:18 a.m.
 
Homicide investigators and crime scene personnel processed the scene and spoke with witnesses who reported a Black male suspect, pictured below, shooting into the victim’s vehicle as it traveled through the Denny’s/Motel 6 parking lot. The suspect then fled eastbound on foot into the motel corridors.
 
The Travis County Medical Examiner ruled the manner of death as homicide from a gunshot wound. The case remains under investigation.
  
 
 
Detectives are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS, email homicide.apd@austintexas.gov, utilize the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477 (TIPS), or the Crime Stoppers app. You may remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
 
You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.
 
This is Austin’s eighth homicide of 2021.