On February 19, 2023, at approximately 8:37 p.m., the Austin Police Department (APD) responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot of the Texas Lottery Commission, located in the 600 block of East Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. Upon arrival, officers discovered 27-year-old Anthony Brown suffering from a gunshot wound near the left side of his abdomen. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations revealed that Brown had arranged to meet 18-year-old Abraham Kulor in the parking lot to conduct a marijuana transaction. During the exchange, Kulor reportedly drew a firearm and shot Brown, resulting in his death. Following the shooting, witnesses observed Kulor fleeing toward the 600 block of East Fifth Street. APD officers apprehended him shortly thereafter, finding him in possession of a black shoulder bag containing marijuana. At the time of his arrest, Kulor had an outstanding warrant for aggravated robbery.
Further investigation linked Kulor to another homicide that occurred on February 8, 2023. In that incident, 23-year-old Carlos Calleja was found shot in his vehicle in the 5800 block of Techni Center Drive. Evidence indicated that Calleja had arranged via social media to sell marijuana to an individual using the screen name "Lil AK," later identified as Kulor. Detectives familiar with Kulor from previous violent crime investigations recognized the alias, leading to his identification as the suspect in both murders.
In August 2023, Kulor pleaded guilty to the murders of Anthony Brown and Carlos Calleja. A Travis County judge sentenced him to 90 years in prison, with 50 years for one murder and 40 years for the other, to be served concurrently. At the time of the offenses, Kulor was on probation for multiple aggravated robberies committed in 2021. His probation was subsequently revoked, and he received an additional 50-year sentence for the violations, also to be served concurrently.
The tragic deaths of Anthony Brown and Carlos Calleja underscore the dangers associated with illegal drug transactions and the potential for violence inherent in such activities. The swift apprehension and prosecution of their assailant, facilitated by diligent police work and the use of social media evidence, brought a measure of justice to their grieving families.
