Suspects In South Austin Shooting Spree Arrested

AUSTIN, TX — Two suspects wanted in connection to a series of shootings last year, two of them fatal, have been arrested, police said Wednesday.

Police said Manuel Huerta, 21, and Jonathan Zavala, 33, were both arrested under murder charges. The two were identified as suspects involved in eight aggravated assault cases dating from September to December of last year, law enforcement officials said in an advisory. Booking photos were not made available.

Police said they believe there are additional suspects associated with Huerta and Zavala. Those with information that would prove helpful to police were encouraged to contact Capital Area Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS(8477). Over the last several months, two homicides, several shootings, and numerous gun-related incidents occurring in South Austin have been reported to the Austin Police Department, officials said.

Each incident involved descriptions of young men in a white or gray sedan driving aggressively while attempting to engage the victims in road rage, police said. "In all of the cases, the suspects were unknown to the victims, and the suspects displayed a handgun in a threatening manner, and in some cases fired at the victims," police wrote in their advisory.

While they continue to investigate, detectives are asking for the public's assistance with information regarding any of the incidents below. The verbiage on each case is attributable to the Austin Police Department:

• Sept. 23, 2020, along the 2400 block of West Stassney Lane: A suspect in a white Honda sedan was swerving and driving recklessly behind the victim’s vehicle. Suspect followed victim further and fired two shots from the sunroof toward the victim.

• Oct. 10, 2020, 20 in the 2400 block of East Riverside Drive: Suspect in white Honda sedan cut complainant off for no reason and displayed a handgun at them in a threatening manner.
• Nov. 25, 2020 along the 4400 block of E Riverside Drive: Suspect in white Honda sedan began driving aggressively and followed the victim from Oltorf to Riverside where several shots were fired resulting in homicide.
• Nov 26, 2020, along the 2400 block of Grove Boulevard: Suspect in white Honda stopped next to the victim on Grove near Riverside and began to rev the engine. A Hispanic man exited the vehicle and fired multiple rounds into the driver’s seat area. The victim was shot and received non-life-threatening injuries.
• Nov. 26, 2020, in the 6200 block of Clovis Street: Two construction workers were working on a rooftop when they were shot at by white sedan.
• Dec. 22, 2020, along the 2400 block of Spirit of Texas Drive: The suspect in a gray sedan engaged in aggressive driving and followed the victim, shooting into her vehicle. Victim received serious injuries but survived.
• Dec. 24, 2020, in the 3800 block of Promontory Point Drive: The suspect displayed a gun in a threatening manner toward employees of a restaurant.
• Dec. 26, 2020, near the intersection of East St. Elmo/South Pleasant Valley: Suspects in a gray sedan engaged in aggressive driving with victims, followed them, and fired multiple rounds, resulting in a homicide.

The Austin Police Department noted the cooperation of various area law enforcement agencies that have assisted in the investigatins, including the Violent Crimes Task Force, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, the Hays County Sherriff’s Office and the New Braunfels Police Department.