City of Austin
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Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Update: On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 31, 2021, members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Manuel Vilchis, 22, in the 8000 block of Decker Lane in Austin.
Case: 21-0770196
Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021
Time: 3:33 a.m.
Location: 106 Oertli Lane
Deceased: Danny Mendoza, Hispanic male, Born 11/23/1992
Arrested: Manuel Vilchis, Hispanic male, 22 years of age
On Thursday, March 18, 2021 at approximately 3:33 a.m., Austin 911 received a report of a male lying outside of 106 Oertli Lane and a female yelling for help. Upon arrival, Austin police and Austin-Travis County EMS personnel discovered the victim, a Hispanic male, with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim, identified as Danny Mendoza, was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas where he was pronounced deceased at 4:46 a.m.
Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel arrived to begin processing the scene. Investigators learned the suspect, victim and woman had been drinking inside the residence when an argument occurred. The two men went outside where shots were fired. The victim fell to the ground and the suspect fled the scene in Ford F150 crew cab. The body of the truck is dark in color on the upper half and light in color on the lower half.
Detectives are continuing to follow up on leads to identify the suspect.
The Travis County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death.
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. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.
You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.
This is Austin’s 14th homicide of 2021.