Fatal Budget Inn Shooting Detailed

Austin police said a May 8 shooting at the Budget Inn in North Austin left one man dead after what investigators described as a verbal argument at the motel’s front desk. Officers were called at 7:32 p.m. to 9106 North Interstate Highway 35 southbound, where they found Se Hun Park unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to a May 15 police news release. Park was taken to a local hospital and died on May 14, police said. The case is being investigated as Austin’s 25th homicide of 2026. ### Who was killed, and where did the shooting happen? Se Hun Park, identified by Austin police as the victim, was shot at the Budget Inn at 9106 North IH 35 southbound on May 8, according to the department’s release. Police said callers reported that a person had been shot at the business’s front desk before officers arrived. (austintexas.gov) The motel is in North Austin, and local television outlets citing Austin police said the shooting happened at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. Park was 56, KXAN reported, citing police. ### What do investigators say happened before the gunfire? Austin police said the shooting followed a verbal argument between Park and a man later identified as Sean Walton. (austintexas.gov) In the department’s account, Walton pulled out a firearm and shot Park after the dispute escalated. FOX 7 Austin, citing police, reported that investigators have not released the cause of the argument. (fox7austin.com) APD’s public statement did not describe any earlier confrontation beyond the verbal dispute. ### Who is the suspect, and where was he arrested? Sean Walton, identified by police as the suspect, was seen leaving the scene in a vehicle after the shooting, according to APD. (austintexas.gov) Investigators obtained an arrest warrant and worked with other agencies to find him, the department said. Cibolo police arrested Walton on May 10 in Cibolo, Texas, Austin police said. (fox7austin.com) KVUE reported that Cibolo is about 25 miles northeast of San Antonio, and APD said Walton remained in custody in Guadalupe County as of its May 15 release. KXAN reported that no attorney was listed for Walton in the case at the time of its story. (austintexas.gov) ### Why did the case become a homicide a week after the shooting? May 14 is the date Austin police said Park died from his injuries at a local hospital, six days after the shooting. APD said Park was pronounced dead at 6:48 p.m. that Thursday. That death changed the investigation into a homicide case. (kvue.com) Austin police said the case is now counted as the city’s 25th homicide of 2026. ### What have police said about charges and the next steps? Austin police said only that Walton was arrested after a warrant was obtained and that he remained in custody in Guadalupe County. (austintexas.gov) The department’s public release did not list a filed charge beyond describing the case as a homicide investigation, and the available local reports based on that release did not add any court filing details. Anyone with information can contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS, according to the department. APD also said anonymous tips can be submitted through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. The next public updates are likely to come through Austin police releases or court records in Guadalupe County. (austintexas.gov)