Antwan Danell Riddle, a 45-year-old African American man from Austin, Texas, tragically lost his life on September 10, 2019. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds in North Austin and was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m., and Riddle was pronounced dead at approximately 8:13 p.m.
Following the shooting, Austin police identified Albert Ellsworth Hardy Jr., a 29-year-old man, as the suspect.
Hardy was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail on first-degree murder charges. Surveillance footage from the scene showed Hardy shooting Riddle with a handgun. During the investigation, it was discovered that Hardy had outstanding warrants for homicide and battery from Louisiana.
In May 2022, Hardy pled guilty to the murder of Antwan Riddle and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The court documents did not reveal Hardy's motive for the killing. The case highlighted the challenges faced by the Austin criminal justice system, including a backlog of cases and the need for more attorneys to handle violent crime cases.
The tragic death of Antwan Riddle and the subsequent legal proceedings against Albert Hardy Jr. underscore the impact of violent crime on communities and the importance of effective law enforcement and judicial processes.
