Rafael Solorzano Sanchez, a 22-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed in a shooting incident in North Austin, Texas, on February 6, 2021. The incident occurred early in the morning around 5:40 a.m. on the southbound I-35 service road near St. John's. According to reports, officers were dispatched to the scene following calls about shots being fired. Upon arrival, they found Rafael Solorzano Sanchez inside a white Ford SUV that had crashed into a chain-link fence.
He was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, where he was pronounced dead at 6:18 a.m. The Travis County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a Black male suspect shooting into Rafael Solorzano Sanchez's vehicle as it traveled through the Denny's/Motel 6 parking lot. The suspect then fled eastbound on foot into the motel corridors. The Austin Police Department released surveillance camera images of the suspect and appealed to the public for any information or video footage related to the incident. Despite these efforts, the case remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made so far.
The tragic death of Rafael Solorzano Sanchez marked the eighth homicide in Austin for the year 2021. The police have urged anyone with information to come forward and have offered a reward of up to $1,000 for tips leading to an arrest. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives continue to seek leads to bring justice for the young victim and his family.
