Knife-Wielding Suspect Sought By Austin Police

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Police Department sought help from the public on Tuesday in identifying a knife-wielding suspect involved in two separate incidents involving victims in the course of a single weekend last month.

The incidents date to Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, respectively on Nov. 8, at a Circle K convenience store on 933 E. Rundberg Lane around 1:15 p.m. and at a Goodwill store along the 1100 block of West Anderson Lane 7 p.m., police wrote in an advisory.

In the first incident, police said, the suspect approached a female victim behind the store while making stabbing motions in the air with a knife as he moved toward her until the blade touched her neck. The suspect fled after the victim, police said, and her friend threatened to call police. The victim did not sustain any physical injuries, police added.

In the second incident, police said, officers responded to a nearby fast-food restaurant where they found a male victim with multiple stab wounds who had sought their assistance. The victim was uncooperative with police, but witnesses provided information that linked the suspect believed to have been involved in the previous aggravated assault. The victim was transported by Austin-Travis County EMS to an area hospital where he underwent emergency surgery before being released, police said.

Police released surveillance camera images of the suspect while armed with a large knife or machete, noting he is known to frequent the area around Rundberg Lane at Interstate 35 and Cameron Road at Interstate 35. He is believed to be between 30 and 40 years of age with a muscular build standing at about six feet tall. He has tattoos on his forearm and right calf, and was last seen wearing a black bandana, white shirt and blue jeans while carrying a black and gray backpack.

Photos provided by Austin Police Department.

Detectives urge anyone with information or video of the incident to call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (512) 472-8477 (TIPS), or the Crime Stoppers app. Police noted those submitting tips have the option of remaining anonymous. Tips also can be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android. Information leading to the arrest of this individual may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, police added.