AUSTIN, Texas — After police labeled a Northeast Austin shopping center a “crime hotspot” last year, violence continues to plague the area. A fatal shooting on Saturday night is just the latest example.
Just before midnight on Saturday, police responded to a shooting in the parking lot of a sports bar at 900 E. Braker Lane. According to a release on Monday evening, one man, identified as 18-year-old Antonio Cleveland, was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. Another victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
In the fall, the Austin Police Department launched a “place network investigation (PNI)” in the area of 900 E. Braker Lane, which combined local, state and federal resources and led to three arrests and 18 code violation citations. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) also executed a search warrant and found a nightclub had been operating without a license.
“This is an area that has been identified as a persistent violent crime hotspot, with many complaints. We are talking about shootings, stabbings; it runs the gamut,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at the time.
In the nine months following the PNI, violent crime remains in the area. City data shows two reported homicides and multiple burglaries and robberies within 500 feet of 900 E. Braker Lane since October 2025.
CBS Austin requested an interview with APD on Monday to discuss the department’s efforts in the area, what progress has been made, and what challenges remain. We were unable to speak with the department Monday, but it did provide the following statement:
“The Austin Police (APD) and partner agencies, previously focused enforcement efforts in this area, resulting in reduction in crime over the past year. The City is currently pursuing a nuisance abatement lawsuit related to the property. APD continues to maintain directed patrols and work with our partners in the area to proactively address crime and help ensure the community remains safe for everyone.”
Austin Police Association president Michael Bullock said operations like the PNI conducted in the fall may not always result in a long-term fix.
“There’s always been a history where we have these teams that will come in; they’re there to try to help drive down the activity in these hotspots, but you know, it’s not uncommon for trends to reemerge in particular areas. And that’s where you start looking at what are the longer-term solutions, what all is really contributing to the crime in these areas, and how can those underlying situations be addressed?” Bullock said.
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He added that crime hotspots may fall victim to repeat offenders.
“We can arrest people all day long, but if there’s no follow-through,” he said. “That makes it very difficult for the law to have any meaning. That’s another component to all of this that still has to be considered, as far as why these can also become hotspots again and again.”
CBS Austin also contacted Austin Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison following this weekend’s fatal shooting. Her office said the council member extends her “deepest condolences” to the victims and those impacted.
“While state law limits the City’s authority to regulate firearms directly, we remain deeply committed to working with community organizations, regional partners, and residents to address the root causes of violence. Through evidence-based violence prevention strategies, economic opportunity, youth engagement, and continued investments in stronger neighborhoods, we will continue supporting efforts that improve public safety and the well-being of everyone who calls District 1 home,” her office wrote in a statement.
TABC confirmed its TRACE Unit (Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies) is investigating Saturday’s shooting.
No suspects have been identified in Saturday night’s shooting. APD asks anyone with knowledge of the incident to share through the department’s evidence submission portal.