City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 20-0540659
Date: Sunday, February 23, 2020
Time: 8:47 a.m.
Location: 5900 Block of S. Mopac Expressway northbound service road
Deceased: Shawn Thomas Eaton, White male, (D.O.B. 3-21-90)
Arrested: Damon Richard Boyd, White male, 41 years of age
On Sunday, February 23, 2020, at approximately 8:47 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 received a call from a Sunset Valley police officer who had been flagged down about a deceased person in a homeless camp located in the 5900 block of the S. Mopac Expressway northbound service road. The Sunset Valley officer learned from the complainant that there had been a shooting Friday night, at the homeless camp, and the body was still on scene. Austin Police officers made contact with the complainant, who directed them to the campsite, where they located a deceased White male. Officers found the decedent on the ground with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest. Austin-Travis County EMS arrived on scene, but no life saving measures were attempted. Dr. Escott pronounced the time of death as 9:51 a.m.
Homicide detectives were dispatched to the scene where they spoke with several witnesses that lived at the camp and were on scene when the initial shooting occurred on Friday night. The witnesses advised that the victim had gotten into an argument with the suspect who was identified as Damon Richard Boyd. The argument ended with Boyd shooting the victim.
After Boyd was identified as the shooting suspect, a murder warrant was obtained by homicide detectives. The Lonestar Fugitive Task Force was called in to locate and arrest the suspect. Boyd was taken into custody at 5:20 p.m. without incident. He is currently incarcerated at the Travis County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Detectives are asking anyone with video or information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 512-974-TIPS or use the new Crime Stoppers App or email APD Homicide at homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. You may remain anonymous.You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.