APD’s Narcotics Support Unit Announces Murder Charge for a Fentanyl-Related Death

Case:  24-2201561

Date:  August 7, 2024

Time:  10:45 p.m.

Location:  4312 Acropolis Court

Deceased:  Ryan Luper, White male, 11/01/1977

Suspect:  Stephen Tamayo, White male, 40 years of age

Photo: Williamson County

On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a check welfare call at 4312 Acropolis Court. Officers arrived at the scene and located a man, later identified as Ryan Luper, who was unresponsive. Mr. Luper was pronounced deceased at 11:01 p.m.
 
Crime Scene Specialists responded and processed the scene.
 
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Officer determined Luper’s cause of death was from the “toxic effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine.”  APD’s Narcotics Support Unit was assigned the investigation and based on their investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for murder for Stephen Tamayo. Tamayo is currently in custody in Williamson County on an unrelated charge.
 
This is the fourth murder charge filed by the Austin Police Department’s Narcotics Support Unit since the state legislature added the supplying of fentanyl resulting in the death of an individual in 2023.

This case is being investigated as Austin's 72nd homicide of 2024.