On May 9, 2023, at approximately 11:29 p.m., the Austin Police Department (APD) responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots near the intersection of Manor Road and Rogge Lane in East Austin. Upon arrival, officers found no immediate evidence of a victim at the scene. Shortly thereafter, a woman contacted 911, stating that her boyfriend had been shot.
Officers proceeded to the 6200 block of Breeze Way, a few blocks from the initial location, where they discovered 18-year-old Davanta Tyrell Reece with apparent gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, Reece was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations revealed that Reece had been shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex located at 5707 Manor Road. At the time of the shooting, a group of approximately 10 to 15 individuals was present in the parking lot. While a significant number of these individuals have been identified, the exact circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear. In the aftermath, an individual, attempting to flee the immediate area, transported Reece to Breeze Way, where he was later found by police.
In the months following the incident, APD, alongside Reece's family, made public appeals for information to aid in solving the case. Reece's mother, Dorita, expressed her grief and urged anyone with knowledge of the events to come forward, emphasizing the profound loss of her son, who was only 18 years old and had his entire life ahead of him. Despite these appeals, the case remained unsolved for several months.
A breakthrough occurred on November 29, 2023, when 32-year-old Nicholas Treysean Price was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Reece's death. The arrest was facilitated by anonymous tips, as well as analysis of cellphone data and social media information, which placed Price in the vicinity of the shooting at the relevant time. During an interview with police on November 8, Price denied being in the area; however, call records contradicted his statement, showing his phone was present at the scene and departed shortly after the shooting. Authorities indicated that Price had a clear motive and intent to shoot Reece. As of December 2024, Price remains in custody at the Travis County Jail, held on a $500,000 bond.
