Fatal Budget Inn shooting details released

Austin police said a May 8 shooting at the Budget Inn in North Austin turned into a homicide after the victim died nearly a week later. The department said officers were called at 7:32 p.m. to the motel at 9106 North Interstate Highway 35 southbound after a report that someone had been shot at the front desk. Police identified the victim as Se Hun Park, 56, and the suspect as Sean Walton, 24. Park died on May 14, and the case is now being investigated as Austin’s 25th homicide of 2026. ### Where did the shooting happen, and when did police respond? Austin police said the shooting happened at the Budget Inn on North IH 35 southbound in North Austin. Officers arrived after a caller reported that a person had been shot at the front desk of the business at 7:32 p.m. on Friday, May 8. (austintexas.gov) The motel address listed by police is 9106 North Interstate Highway 35 southbound. Local television reports citing Austin police said officers found Park unresponsive when they reached the scene. ### What do investigators say led up to the gunfire? APD said its preliminary investigation found that Walton and Park got into a verbal argument before the shooting. (austintexas.gov) Police said Walton then pulled out a firearm and shot Park in the chest. Fox 7 Austin, citing police, reported that the confrontation happened at the motel front desk. (austintexas.gov) Austin police have not publicly released what started the argument. ### Who were the victim and the suspect? Austin police identified the victim as Se Hun Park, whose full name appears in the department’s homicide release. (austintexas.gov) The release lists his date of birth as Sept. 7, 1969, which matches local reports identifying him as 56 years old. APD identified the suspect as Sean Walton, a 24-year-old Hispanic man. (fox7austin.com) Police said Walton fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting. ### How did the case become a homicide investigation? Park was taken to a local hospital after officers found him with a gunshot wound, Austin police said. (austintexas.gov) APD said he died from his injuries at 6:48 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. The department issued its homicide release on May 15, one day after Park’s death. (austintexas.gov) KXAN reported that police had originally investigated the case as a shooting before reclassifying it after Park died. ### What happened to Sean Walton after the shooting? Austin police said investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Walton after identifying him as the suspect. (austintexas.gov) The department said officers and partner agencies worked to find him after he left the motel. Cibolo police arrested Walton on May 10 in Cibolo, Texas, according to APD. (austintexas.gov) Police said he remained in custody in Guadalupe County as of the department’s May 15 release, and KXAN reported no attorney was listed for him at that stage of the case. ### What are police asking from the public now? (austintexas.gov) Austin police said the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact the department at 512-974-TIPS. The department also said anonymous tips can be submitted through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. APD said the case is being investigated as Austin’s 25th homicide of 2026. (austintexas.gov) The next public updates are likely to come through Austin police releases and court records tied to Walton’s case in Guadalupe County.