On the night of April 27, 2025, tragedy struck in East Austin when 22-year-old Hispanic female Samantha Fernandez was fatally shot in the parking lot of The Jordan at Mueller Apartments on Philomena Street. At approximately 10:16 p.m., Austin 911 received multiple calls reporting gunfire in the area. When officers arrived, they discovered Fernandez lying unresponsive on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound.
Despite immediate response efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:42 p.m.
Investigators quickly pieced together the events leading up to the shooting. Reports indicate that a pickup truck had pulled into the apartment complex’s parking lot, where Fernandez had come down to meet its occupants. Moments later, one of the individuals inside the vehicle, identified as 22-year-old Hispanic male Gonzalo Mendoza-Gonzalez, fired the fatal shot before the truck fled the scene. Authorities later tracked the vehicle to Kerrville, Texas, where it had broken down. Mendoza-Gonzalez was subsequently taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.
The case marks Austin’s 21st homicide of 2025, prompting law enforcement to urge anyone with additional information to come forward. The Austin Police Department continues its investigation, seeking further details that may shed light on the circumstances surrounding Fernandez’s death. Community members are encouraged to provide anonymous tips through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.
