APD reclassifies March death from suicide to homicide
Austin police announced Thursday the death of a man in 2012, which investigators originally thought was a suicide, was later ruled a homicide. Reclassifying the case raises the city’s homicide total for the year from 32 to 33.
Officers responded to a check welfare call March 11, 2012 at 615 Thrasher Lane in southeast Austin. Inside, officers found Lee Martinez, who had suffered a gunshot wound. The 27-year-old was taken to Brackenridge Hospital where he later died.
Initially, officers believed the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Investigators later learned another person in the home had shot Martinez.
The state presented a criminally negligent homicide case to a Travis County Grand Jury in October. The suspect was no-billed and the charge dismissed.