AUSTIN, Texas — A nightclub security guard shot a suspect who had allegedly just fatally wounded another person, in what police say is the latest violent incident at a troubled intersection that has seen escalating crime this year.
The early Friday shooting at Michelobos nightclub, which left 30-year-old Tyler Cochran dead and suspect Clayton Taitague, 20, critically wounded, occurred at a location that has generated 61 police calls in 2024 — nearly double last year’s total of 34 calls.
“Both the frequency and intensity of these calls have increased,” Austin Police Chief Davis said at a Monday press conference, citing aggravated assaults, celebratory gunfire, and robberies at the intersection of I-35 and Braker Lane.
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According to homicide detective Bradley Parks, surveillance video shows Taitague fired nine shots at Cochran following a verbal dispute that turned physical. The security guard then fired approximately 12 shots at Taitague, who police say appeared to be moving to shoot Cochran again.
Taitague remains hospitalized in stable condition but heavily sedated, Parks said. He faces first-degree murder charges.
Police commanders say they’ve been meeting with property owners and business operators since April about safety concerns in the area, which houses several nightclubs and after-hours establishments.
“We’re looking at these liquor licenses and what is contributing to this rise in calls for service,” Davis said, adding that potential solutions range from improved lighting to venue changes.
The incident marks Austin’s 56th homicide of 2024.