On April 27, 2023, Austin Police Department officers responded to a welfare check at a residence in the 1200 block of Kenyon Drive after a caller reported not hearing from 47-year-old Shannon Norton for two days. Upon arrival, officers found the door unsecured and discovered Norton and her boyfriend, 52-year-old James Flom, both deceased with gunshot wounds.
Investigators determined that Flom had fatally shot Norton before taking his own life, classifying the incident as a murder-suicide stemming from domestic violence.
Norton, originally from Schuylerville, New York, was a graduate of the University of Albany. In May 2005, she moved to Austin, Texas, where she resided until her untimely death. She was known for her adventurous spirit, love of travel, passion for music, and her rescue dogs, Shug and Dunder.
This tragic event marked Austin's 26th homicide of 2023 and highlights the pervasive issue of domestic violence. Authorities encourage individuals experiencing domestic violence to seek help by contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.
