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The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Cornelius Cooks for the April 14th homicide of Kedarius Griffin, on N. Lamar Blvd. Cooks was arrested without incident in the 2900 block of West Anderson Lane. He has been charged with murder and is currently booked into the Travis County Jail with a $300,000.00 bond.
Booking Photo of Cornelius Cooks:
Case: 21-1041315
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Time: 7:24 p.m.
Location: 9414 N. Lamar
Deceased: Kedarius Griffin, Black male, born 7/16/2002
Arrested: Warren Mitchell, Black male, 21 years of age
Wanted: Cornelius Cooks, Black male, 22 years of age
The Austin Police Department (APD) is seeking the public's assistance with locating Cornelius Cooks in the April 14, 2021, homicide of Kedarius Griffin on N. Lamar Blvd. Cooks is known to frequent the Galveston and Houston areas.
The first suspect in this case was identified as Warren Mitchell. Mitchell was arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2021, by the U.S. Marshals Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force. He is charged with murder, a 1st degree felony and the bond was set at $500,000.
Pictured below: 22-year-old Cornelius Cooks
On Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at approximately 7:24 p.m., 9-1-1 received a call about shots being fired near the McDonalds located at 9414 N. Lamar near the HEB. Officers arrived on scene and observed a gray colored sedan that appeared to have crashed into other vehicles that were parked and unattended in the parking lot. They also observed a Black male, identified as Kedarius Griffin, lying on the ground near the gray sedan driver’s door, with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Austin-Travis County EMS arrived on scene and attempted life-saving measures but Mr. Griffin was pronounced deceased at 7:36 p.m. by Dr. Escott.
Homicide investigators were called to the scene along with crime scene technicians to investigate. Witness statements along with other evidence at the scene indicates that three black male subjects were involved in some type of disturbance with the victim, several shots were fired, and the three black male suspects left the scene in a red sedan. Investigators are currently investigating and gathering leads to identify these three suspects.
Three other Black female juvenile subjects were in the victim’s car along with a two-year-old toddler. None of them were injured during the shooting.
This case is still under investigation. A clear motive has not been determined.
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy and determined the official cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head and manner, Homicide.
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 $1000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s).
You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.
This is Austin's 23rd homicide of 2021.