Southeast Austin double homicide suspect arrested

Austin American-Statesman

(This story has been updated to include new information and add video.)

Police arrested a man Monday night who they say shot and killed a man and a woman in the Riverside area of Southeast Austin, authorities said Monday.

The woman had three children who were not found, causing an Amber Alert naming Sherles Gregorio Machado-Hernandez, 31, as the kidnapper, to be sent out in the afternoon, police said in a news release Monday night. The children have since been safely located and are safe, authorities said. They said the woman and man were found dead inside a vehicle.

Police said the suspected shooter is Machado-Hernandez. It is unclear what, if any, relationship Machado-Hernandez had with the children and victims.

Police said Machado-Hernandez was taken into custody Monday night in the 900 block of Fairfield Drive in North Austin.

The Police Department did not immediately respond to questions about the incident and the relationship between the suspect and victims.

Officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of Burton Drive around 7:30 a.m. after someone called 911 to report the discovery of two bodies in the parking lot of an apartment complex, police Cpl. Jose Mendez said at an afternoon briefing near the site. He said the victims were in their 20s and were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds. He said they had “been there for a while.”

Mendez said it appeared to be an isolated incident and there was no further threat to the public.

Mendez asked that anyone with information about the double homicide, including seeing someone possibly discussing the matter on a social media app, call the homicide tip line at 512-477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 512- 472-8477.