Austin police investigate two homicides hours apart; suspect arrested in one

Austin police are investigating a pair of “senseless acts of violence” that left two people dead within hours Tuesday evening, according to Austin Police Department officer and spokesperson David Lewis.

The first killing was reported at about 5:15 p.m. by a 911 caller who said a person was lying in a pool of blood at 408 East Wonsley Drive.

When police arrived on the scene near Interstate 35 and West Anderson Lane, Lewis said they found a man — later identified as 72-year-old Ronald Mixon — with multiple stab wounds. First responders attempted to save his life, but Mixon died just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Lewis said in a media briefing near the scene.

Police later arrested and charged 61-year-old Robert Saldana with first-degree murder in Mixon's killing. The two men were roommates, officials said.

According to a Wednesday news release, officers found Saldana in critical condition at a bus stop near the scene. Investigators believe Saldana stabbed Mixon before walking to the bus stop, where he was taken into custody. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of lacerations.

He is now being held at the Travis County Correctional Complex Wednesday on a $900,000 bond.

Mixon had called 911 earlier in the day after Saldana allegedly shouted racial comments at him, slapped him and threatened to kill him.

Second Tuesday homicide involved vehicle

Five hours after police found Mixon dead, officers responded to multiple reports of a pedestrian hit by a car in a shopping center parking lot in the 3000 block of South Lamar Boulevard, Lewis said. Despite first responders' efforts to save the victim’s life, the person died at 10:40 p.m., Lewis said in a second briefing, adding that no one had been arrested.

Lewis said investigators don’t believe the crash was an accident though they haven’t specified a motive.

“This is being investigated as a homicide, so there has to be some type of criminal element as far as intent,” Lewis said.

The deaths mark Austin’s 31st and 32nd homicides of the year, respectively. It was not immediately clear if the two incidents were related but Lewis called each an “isolated incident.” He said the public does “absolutely not” need to be concerned by two back-to-back homicides.

“We’re going to continue to respond and investigate these cases and bring justice to our victims,” he said.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the Police Department’s homicide tipline at 512-974-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.