On September 27, 2018, 30-year-old Matthew Fernander was tragically shot and killed at the Concord Austin apartment complex in southeast Austin, Texas. According to the Austin Police Department, Fernander was shot while in the breezeway of the apartment complex, possibly after an altercation. He managed to walk into his apartment before succumbing to his injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital.
The investigation revealed that Fernander was arguing with his roommate,
28-year-old John Edward Litchfield II, before the fatal shooting. The next day, Litchfield was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Pennybacker Bridge. Police linked Litchfield to Fernander's murder through DNA and ballistics evidence, as well as text messages between the two men indicating a disagreement. Litchfield's vehicle was also found near the bridge.
The Travis County Medical Examiner ruled Fernander's death a homicide, caused by a gunshot wound to the head. The case was treated as a closed investigation due to Litchfield's death, but the Austin Police Department continued to seek any additional information that could help clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
