Ramesh Thapa, a 39-year-old Nepalese man, was fatally shot in the parking lot of his Southeast Austin apartment complex on April 7, 2021. Thapa, who had been living in Austin for about 11 years, was returning home from work when he was attacked. The Austin Police Department received a 911 call about the shooting around 12:26 a.m., and despite efforts by EMS medics, Thapa was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Travis County Medical Examiner determined Thapa's death was caused by a gunshot
wound and ruled it a homicide. The suspect, Francois O’Neal, 23, was arrested the following day and was found in possession of a gun believed to be used in the shooting. O'Neal's weapon also matched shell casings from a different shooting that occurred the day before, though the injuries in that incident were not life-threatening.
O'Neal was charged with first-degree felony murder and second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. His bail was set at $1 million. Court documents related to the Monday shooting suggested that O'Neal may have been experiencing mental health issues.
The Nepalese community in Austin, which estimates to be about 10,000 to 15,000 people, has been deeply affected by Thapa's death. Friends and family described Thapa as a gentle and hard-working person who was trying to bring his wife and child to the United States. The Greater Austin Nepali Society started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and travel costs for the family.
The investigation into Thapa's death continues, and the Austin Police Department has not yet released information about the motive behind the shooting.
