On January 28, 2023, a tragic shooting occurred at the Moon Palace Hookah Lounge, located in the 12600 block of Research Boulevard in North Austin, Texas. The incident resulted in the deaths of two young individuals: 18-year-old JaiTron Tatum and 17-year-old Brayden Bolyard. The Austin Police Department (APD) responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the shooting around 10:19 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found several victims with gunshot wounds.
Bolyard was pronounced dead at the scene, while Tatum succumbed to his injuries on February 1, 2023.
The investigation led authorities to identify 19-year-old Christijan Deshaun Stevens as the primary suspect. Stevens, who had a prior history with one of the victims, was apprehended on March 8, 2023, in Bell County by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals, and Killeen Police Department officers. He was subsequently charged with capital murder for the deaths of Tatum and Bolyard.
Both Tatum and Bolyard were students at Jarrell High School, located approximately 40 miles north of Austin. Their untimely deaths had a profound impact on the local community, with the school district expressing deep sorrow over the loss of two young lives. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, and authorities have urged anyone with additional information to come forward.
