AUSTIN, TEXAS — Two boys, just 12 and 13 years old, have been charged with capital murder following a violent carjacking that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Anthony Salas. Authorities say the suspects shot and ran over Salas in a failed attempt to flee in a stolen vehicle.
According to the Austin Police Department, the incident occurred in the early hours of May 3 in the Del Valle area, just southeast of Austin.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office first received a 911 call at 2:58 a.m. reporting the theft of a vehicle from a family’s driveway. Just 23 minutes later, Austin police were dispatched to a separate call about a pedestrian being struck near Del Valle Elementary School.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Salas had not only been hit by a car but also shot. Investigators believe he was trying to recover his family’s stolen vehicle when the suspects attacked him near an intersection.
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A Crime Spree Unfolds
Authorities revealed that the young suspects were part of a broader wave of vehicle burglaries across South and East Austin on the night of May 2 into May 3. The fatal encounter with Salas marked the end of their crime spree — and the beginning of a capital murder investigation.
Community Reaction and Law Enforcement Efforts
Before the suspects were apprehended, law enforcement had issued a public plea and offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to arrests. The case quickly drew local attention, sparking concern over rising youth crime and the increasing severity of offenses involving juveniles.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Impact of the Capital Murder
Police have yet to release details about how the suspects acquired a firearm or whether other individuals were involved. The investigation remains ongoing.
As the community mourns the loss of Anthony Salas, the shocking nature of the case, involving suspects barely in their teens, continues to raise pressing questions about prevention, accountability, and the broader social factors at play.
