On March 31, 2025, at approximately 3:10 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting a shooting in the 13000 block of Harrisglenn Drive. When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive Hispanic male, 15-year-old Derick Fajardo-Reyes, sitting inside a black sedan that had collided with a utility pole. He had sustained apparent gunshot wounds.
Emergency responders transported him to a hospital in Round Rock, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:17 a.m.
The initial investigation revealed that Derick Fajardo-Reyes was inside the vehicle with other occupants when it was fired upon. The suspect fled the area and remained at large in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Prior to the incident, Derick Fajardo-Reyes had been accompanied by an unidentified female. Authorities sought information to identify this woman, believing she may have had knowledge relevant to the case.
Further investigation led to the arrest of 20-year-old Eli Aleman, who was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. Witnesses reported that a white truck had pulled up next to the crashed Mustang and fired shots at it. A juvenile who had been driving the Mustang told police that Derick Fajardo-Reyes had met with a female for a personal encounter, which later escalated into an argument. As tensions rose, Derick Fajardo-Reyes called the juvenile for assistance. The juvenile arrived at the scene to find Derick Fajardo-Reyes and the female engaged in a heated dispute. The female then contacted Eli Aleman, who arrived shortly thereafter.
As the Mustang attempted to leave the scene, the white truck driven by Eli Aleman pursued it. A chase ensued before the Mustang crashed into the utility pole, at which point gunfire erupted, striking Derick Fajardo-Reyes, who was seated in the front passenger seat. Investigators later discovered that Eli Aleman was the cousin of the female involved in the altercation and the owner of the truck from which the fatal shots were fired. Authorities charged Aleman with first-degree murder, marking a significant development in the case.
The tragic death of Derick Fajardo-Reyes was one of multiple violent incidents reported in Austin within a short span of time. His case was classified as the city's 11th homicide of the year. Law enforcement officials urged anyone with additional information, photos, or videos related to the case to come forward, offering a reward for details leading to further arrests.
