Arrest Made In Fatal Stabbing Outside Austin Homeless Shelter

AUSTIN, TX — Police have made an arrest in connection to a fatal stabbing that occurred outside the downtown Austin homeless shelter last week, officials said Friday.

The incident occurred on Oct. 8 just before 10:30 a.m. at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) at 500 E. 7th St., according to a police advisory. Medics arrived at the scene before transporting Darius Maxwell, 39, to Dell Seton Medical Center, according to police. Xavier Gillis Harris, 21, was at the scene and admitted to the stabbing before being taken into custody, according to police.

Following an investigation, Harris was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a 2nd degree felony, according to the press advisory. Bond was set at $40,000, police added.

Initially, police noted, Maxwell was treated and released from the hospital. But on Wednesday, he returned to the hospital in medical distress where he eventually died from his injury before being pronounced deceased at 9:09 p.m., police added.

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Friday, and determined that the official cause of death was complications from sharp force injury, police noted. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to police, and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office has been notified of the death.

Detectives ask anyone with information about this case to call them at (512) 974-8477, Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS (8477), submit a tip on the Crime Stoppers website or use the Crime Stoppers app. Police stressed that those submitting tips have the option of remaining anonymous, and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. Tips also can be submitted via the police department's mobile app, Austin PD, which can be downloaded for free on iPhone and Android.