Luke Brady Kemper, a 16-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, tragically died on September 29, 2020, in Austin, Texas. He was shot in the 12300 block of Yarmont Way, near the intersection of Tech Ridge and Parmer Lane. The incident occurred around 8:40 p.m., and despite being rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center, he was pronounced dead at 9:14 p.m.
The initial investigation suggested that the shooting might have been related to a small marijuana purchase.
However, the investigation faced delays due to conflicting information provided by people who were with Kemper at the time of the shooting. Eventually, a separate group of his friends provided details that helped the police understand the circumstances better.
In connection with the case, Franco Javier Maldonado, a Hispanic male, has an outstanding murder warrant. Detectives believe that Maldonado, who has a prior record including narcotics and theft of a firearm, may still be in Central Texas or possibly fled to Mexico. The Austin Police Department and the US Marshals Service have been actively seeking the public's help to locate Maldonado.
A $1,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest, and the investigation remains ongoing. The Travis County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
The case has drawn significant attention, and the community continues to seek justice for Luke Brady Kemper.
