COLUMBUS — The Columbus Police Department issued a press release regarding a murder on May 17 in Columbus. According to the press release, on May 17 at 11:30 p.m., the Columbus Police Department responded to the 1100 block of Walnut Street about gunshots being fired. Upon arrival, officers locat - ed a victim that had been shot. After fur - ther investigation, it was determined that unknown suspect(s) fired multiple shots at a male victim. Colorado County EMS was summoned to the scene and took the victim to the Columbus Communi - ty Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The victim was identified as Mitch - ell Levard Austin, 37, of Columbus. The Columbus Police Department has noti- fied Austin's family of the death. Within two days of active investigations, Jose Raul Quezada III, 18, of Columbus, was arrested for the offense of Murder, a First Degree Felony.
The Columbus Police Department, headed by Police Chief Skip Edman, is - sued an update which stated, during the investigation into the murder of Mitchell Levard Austin, the Columbus Police De -
partment obtained an arrest warrant for Jose Raul Quezada III, 18, of Columbus
for the offense of Murder, a First Degree
Felony. Columbus Police Detectives contacted investigators with the Colora -
do County Sheriff's Office, who relayed the information to the Gulf Coast Task Force of the outstanding warrant for Quezada. On May 19 at about 11 a.m., the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force tracked Quezada to a hotel in Houston and arrested him without inci dent.
The Columbus Police Department is working this case as a murder and is requesting the assistance of any person who may have knowledge of this crime to call 979-732-3351 or the Colorado County Crime Stoppers at 866-5228477. You can also submit an online tip to the P3 system at https://www.p3tips.
com/TipForm.aspx?ID=1148&C-&T. Tips to Crime Stoppers are made anonymously.
