Copy
Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
For immediate release:
March 13, 2014
Contact:  Public Information Office, (512) 974-5017

Fatality Crash #10/Capital Murder

Case:            14-0720068
 
 Date:             Thursday, March 13, 2014
               
Time:              12:32 a.m.
  
 Location:      10th St. at Red River St.
                       
Deceased:     male, female

Arrested:        Owens, Rashad Charjuan, black male, (D.O.B. 7-30-1992)
                                         
The preliminary investigation shows that an Austin Police Officer attempted to make a traffic stop at a Shell gas station at 9th Street and IH-35 service road. The suspect vehicle did not stop and continued traveling westbound at a high rate of speed on 9th Street (the wrong way). When the suspect, Rashad Charjuan Owens, black male, D.O.B. 9-30-1992, continued to increase his speed, the Officer followed him. Owens continued driving at a high rate of speed, turning right onto Red River Street, which was barricaded off for pedestrian traffic only for the SXSW Festival. The suspect crashed through the barricades, hitting several pedestrians on Red River Street between 9th and 11th Streets. Another Austin Police Officer who was on foot near the scene had to jump out of the way of the suspect vehicle. At the intersection of Red River and 11th Streets, the suspect hit a moped, a taxi cab and a bicyclist. At some point, the suspect’s vehicle drove onto a sidewalk and also struck a van.

Owens then took off on foot and two Austin Police Officers pursued him on foot, tased him and took him into custody. Owens is facing two counts of Capital Murder and multiple counts of Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle. Formal charges are still pending.
 
There were 25 total patients, including the suspect. Two were pronounced deceased at the scene: a female occupant on the moped and a male bicyclist. Names of the deceased are being withheld pending family notifications.
 
Twenty-three additional patients were transported to area hospitals. Currently, two patients are still in critical condition, three patients are in serious condition, three are hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries and 15 were treated and released. Below is the list of the injured; three females and one male have not yet been identified.
 
Last Name First Name Age Gender Facility Name
West Evan 29 Male UMC-Brackenridge
McCraney Joseph 26 Male UMC-Brackenridge
Endres Mason 18 Female St.David's Hospital
Davis Kartisha 18 Female St.David's Hospital
Cerna Greg 19 Male South Austin Hospital
Martinez April 29 Female South Austin Hospital
Freeman Ryan 20 Male St.David's Hospital
Hailu Johannes 39 Male St.David's Hospital
Belyvia Maria 20 Female South Austin Hospital
Grace Carolyn 19 Female South Austin Hospital
Chenzer Jeff 29 Male South Austin Hospital
Easley Ashley 20 Female South Austin Hospital
Gallegos Jacob 20 Male South Austin Hospital
Hall Erica 19 Female South Austin Hospital
Henderson Jane 24 Female South Austin Hospital
Josma William 29 Male South Austin Hospital
Leura Juan 20 Male South Austin Hospital
Longhurst Jaqueline 21 Female South Austin Hospital
Zamarippa Alexis 17 Female South Austin Hospital
 
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-5594. This is Austin’s 10th fatal traffic crash of 2014 and the 12th and 13th traffic fatalities of 2014. At this time in 2013, there were 20 traffic fatalities.

 
Follow on Twitter    Friend on Facebook    Forward to Friend