On September 13, 2026, the life of Desiree Nicole Gauna, a 27-year-old White woman and mother of four, was tragically cut short in a shooting that investigators linked to another homicide in Central Texas. Although initially associated with Bastrop, the shooting that claimed Desiree's life occurred at her residence in Austin, Texas. Her death became part of a disturbing investigation involving two women who police believe were killed by the same man, Manuel Salgado Vasquez, with whom both had been romantically involved.
Desiree was living at an apartment located at 744 West William Cannon Drive in Austin. She had been in a relationship with Salgado, a 22-year-old resident of Cedar Creek, Texas, who was also living at the residence. On Sunday, September 13, Desiree stopped communicating with family and friends. As time passed without hearing from her, concern grew among those closest to her. A close member of the family eventually contacted authorities and requested that officers check on her welfare.
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at approximately 8:26 a.m., officers with the Austin Police Department responded to Desiree's residence. Upon entering the apartment, officers discovered her deceased with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. She was officially pronounced dead at 8:49 a.m. Although her body was discovered on September 15, investigators believe the shooting occurred on September 13, the same day she last communicated with loved ones.
Homicide detectives from the Austin Police Department and crime scene specialists from Austin Forensic Science began processing the residence and collecting evidence. Investigators learned that Desiree had been living with Manuel Salgado Vasquez and that he had failed to report to work on Sunday, September 13. As detectives attempted to establish his whereabouts and reconstruct the circumstances surrounding her death, they discovered that his vehicle had been taken to a wrecker yard in Bastrop. This information helped connect Desiree's homicide to another deadly shooting that had occurred approximately two days before her body was discovered.
On September 13, Salgado had met with his former girlfriend, 20-year-old Mariana Montoya Palacios, at Fisherman's Park in Bastrop. According to investigators, Salgado and Mariana had previously been in a romantic relationship. During their meeting at the park, Salgado shot Mariana at close range, inflicting fatal injuries. He then turned the firearm on himself. Bastrop police officers responded to the scene and discovered Mariana deceased and Salgado suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency personnel transported Salgado to a local hospital, where he remained under medical care until he died from his injuries on Tuesday, September 15, at approximately 2:58 p.m.
As investigators from Austin and Bastrop exchanged information, they established that Salgado had been romantically involved with both Desiree and Mariana. Their preliminary findings indicated that Salgado had likely shot Desiree inside their shared apartment before traveling to Bastrop, where he killed Mariana and subsequently inflicted the fatal gunshot wound upon himself. Authorities identified Salgado as the suspected perpetrator in both homicides. Investigators did not publicly establish a definitive motive explaining why he targeted the two women.
On September 17, 2026, the Austin Police Department and Bastrop Police Department issued a joint announcement formally connecting the deaths. Authorities confirmed that their preliminary investigation pointed to Salgado as the individual responsible for both killings. Because Salgado died from his self-inflicted injuries, he was never arrested or formally prosecuted for either homicide. No criminal trial or conviction resulted from the investigation, and authorities had not publicly identified another suspect.
Despite the identification and death of the suspected killer, Austin police continued investigating Desiree's homicide. Investigators explained that additional forensic examinations and evidence reviews were necessary to establish the complete circumstances surrounding her death and determine whether anyone else had been involved. Austin homicide detective Mendall Edwards indicated that investigators were reviewing forensic evidence and other investigative materials to confirm their findings. The investigation remained open while detectives worked toward completing the case.
Beyond the police investigation, Desiree's death left four young children without their mother. Her family described her as a loving, vibrant person with an unforgettable personality, a warm smile, and an ability to make others laugh. Loved ones remembered her affection for her children and the happiness she brought into their lives. The sudden and violent circumstances of her death devastated those closest to her, particularly because her children would now have to grow up without the everyday presence and guidance of their mother.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, family members and friends organized fundraising efforts to assist with funeral expenses and support Desiree's surviving children. Community benefits were arranged in South Austin and Taylor, Texas, during the weekend of September 26 and 27, 2026. Her loved ones also expressed hopes that sharing her story would raise awareness about gun violence and mental health struggles.
Desiree Nicole Gauna's death remains part of a connected double-homicide investigation that devastated two families and communities in Austin and Bastrop. Although police identified Manuel Salgado Vasquez as the suspected killer, his death prevented the case from proceeding through the criminal justice system. As of the latest publicly available investigative information, no arrests, criminal charges, or convictions had been reported in connection with Desiree's killing. Her family continues to mourn a life taken suddenly, leaving behind four children and loved ones searching for answers about the violence that claimed her life.
