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Austin Pierson
Case from Alton, IL dated Mar 22, 2019
Victim Details
Austin Pierson
Male
Alton
Illinois
Mar 22, 2019
22
Aug 8, 2026
Case Description
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On the evening of March 22, 2019, 22-year-old Austin L. Pierson was fatally shot during an altercation at the Shell gas station located at 2500 Brown Street in Alton, Illinois. Born on September 17, 1996, in St. Louis, Missouri, Austin was the son of Tanya Young McGee and Allen Pierson, both of Alton. He worked as a window installer and was engaged to Crystal Lawson. He is also survived by his step-parents, siblings, grandparents, and other extended family members. ((https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thetelegraph/name/austin-peirson-obituary?id=18111248&utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Following the shooting, Cisneros-Vega fled the scene, resulting in two separate traffic incidents: a hit-and-run in East Alton and a subsequent crash at the intersection of Illinois Route 140 and Route 159. Law enforcement officers apprehended him at the site of the second collision. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, as he did not possess a valid concealed carry license. ((https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Man-charged-in-Friday-murder-of-Austin-Pierson-13714896.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
In July 2021, as part of a plea agreement, Cisneros-Vega pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder. He received a 20-year prison sentence, the maximum for that charge. With credit for time served and the possibility of reduced time for good behavior, he may be eligible for release in approximately eight years. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the altercation began with a dispute between the girlfriends of the two men inside the gas station. As Cisneros-Vega attempted to leave, Austin reportedly attacked him, leading Cisneros-Vega to draw a firearm and shoot Austin twice before fleeing. ((https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/alton-murder-suspect-could-be-released-in-eight-years-51767.cfm?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
