City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 20-3320445
Date: Friday, November 27, 2020
Time: 9:01 a.m.
Location: 801 Sugaree Avenue
Deceased: Ahlame Qourzal, White female, 4/11/94
Deceased: Justin Sands, White male, 2/15/94
On Friday, November 27, 2020, at approximately 9:01 a.m., Austin 911 received a request for a check welfare from the family of Ahlame Qourzal. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Ms. Qourzal’s brother who reiterated the family’s safety concern. Officers noted Ahlame Qourzal’s vehicle in the parking lot and the vehicle belonging to her boyfriend, Justin Sands.
Officers learned that a check welfare had been conducted the previous day at the request of the Sands family. Officers knocked on the apartment door after confirming the presence of both Justin Sands’ and Ms. Qourzal’s vehicles, but did not receive a response. The Sands family did not express any safety concerns so officers left after documenting the incident.
With the prior information in hand, officers knocked on the door. After receiving no response, they contacted apartment management and requested a key to make entry. The officers entered the apartment where they encountered a locked interior bedroom door. After repeated announcements to open the door, officers forced entry and found the bodies of Ahlame Qourzal and Justin Sands.
Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene. Based on the preliminary information gathered thus far, this appears to be an incident of domestic violence. The investigation is ongoing as detectives work to learn more about the relationship between Ahlame Qourzal and Justin Sands.
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s office 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. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.