Police Hunt White Nissan Sentra in Austin Shootings

Austin police said this week they are trying to identify suspects linked to an April 2 drive-by shooting in East Austin that investigators believe may be connected to a homicide about two hours later. The department said witnesses described the vehicle in the first shooting as a white 2019 Nissan Sentra. (austintexas.gov) Officers responded at 10:48 p.m. on April 2 to the 5300 block of King Henry Drive, where they found multiple victims and several homes struck by gunfire, according to an Austin Police Department release dated May 12. No injuries were reported in that shooting, police said. ### Where did the shooting tied to the Nissan Sentra happen? The 5300 block of King Henry Drive is where Austin police said the aggravated assault investigation began. (austintexas.gov) APD said officers were dispatched there after reports of shots fired and found evidence that several homes had been hit. The department did not say how many people were listed as victims, but said no one was injured. Witnesses told investigators that a white sedan drove through the neighborhood, passed a group gathered outside a residence, then returned before shots were fired, according to the police release. Detectives said they believe the car was a white 2019 Nissan Sentra. (austintexas.gov) ### What do police say happened when the car returned? APD said investigators believe as many as five people were inside the vehicle. The department said at least two suspects either got out of the car or leaned from it and fired at the group outside the home. The suspects were described by police as Black males wearing ski masks. (austintexas.gov) APD did not release license plate information, a more precise description of the car, or the number of shots fired. ### Why are detectives linking that shooting to Brazoria Lane? Austin police said detectives believe the King Henry Drive shooting may be connected to a homicide in the 10900 block of Brazoria Lane about two hours later. (austintexas.gov) In a separate release, APD said officers responded at about 12:42 a.m. on April 3 to a shots-fired call there after a caller reported that her boyfriend had been shot. Joshua Williams, whom police identified as a Black male born June 23, 1990, was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at 1:09 a.m. at the scene, APD said. The department said no arrests had been made in the homicide investigation as of the April 6 release and asked neighbors to share video recorded between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. (austintexas.gov) ### What have police released publicly, and what remains unknown? May 12 is the date APD publicly asked for help in the King Henry Drive case, more than a month after the shooting. The release names the make, model year and color of the suspected vehicle, gives a description of the suspects and says detectives see a possible link to the later homicide, but it does not identify a motive or say whether the intended targets were known to the shooters. (austintexas.gov) The Austin Police Department also has not said whether the Nissan Sentra was stolen, whether investigators have recovered shell casings from both scenes that match, or whether surveillance footage has captured the car elsewhere. The department said only that the investigations are ongoing. (austintexas.gov) ### How are investigators asking the public to help? APD said people with information about the King Henry Drive shooting can contact the Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5245. The department also said photos, videos and other evidence can be submitted through the city’s digital evidence portal linked in the release. (austintexas.gov) Crime Stoppers is also taking anonymous tips at 512-472-8477 and through its website, police said. APD said a reward of up to $1,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in the aggravated assault case, while the homicide release said a reward of up to $1,000 may be available in the Brazoria Lane case. (austintexas.gov) ### What happens next in the case? Austin police said both investigations remain open, with the King Henry Drive case assigned to the Aggravated Assault Unit and the Brazoria Lane killing counted as Austin’s 18th homicide of 2026. The next public step is likely to come through additional APD releases, court filings or an arrest announcement if detectives identify the occupants of the white Nissan Sentra. (austintexas.gov)