Police: Man charged with murder after confronting suspected car thief

Alex Trevino’s mug shot (mug shot provided by APD)

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A man is charged with first-degree murder after an argument over a possibly stolen vehicle led to a fatal stabbing, according to Austin police.

Just before 10:30 a.m. on July 24, Austin police officers responded to a business in the 1900 block of East Oltorf Street after a 9-1-1 caller said she was “following a vehicle that was believed to be her stolen vehicle.” The caller followed the Kia to an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Burton Drive, where the caller then told police that a man had been stabbed.

Police arrested 34-year-old Alex Trevino Garcia, who, according to police records, approached officers with his hands raised and said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. He attacked me. He attacked me. He stole my car and he attacked me.”

KXAN has reached out to Trevino Garcia’s attorney for comment. We will update this story if we receive a response.

Officers found an unconscious man on the ground with a stab wound. Police rendered aid at the scene, but when Austin-Travis County EMS arrived on scene, they confirmed the man was dead.

According to police, the suspect followed and confronted the driver

Police spoke to the 911 caller, who said she was helping to search for Trevino Garcia’s car, which she said had been stolen a few days ago.

She told police she and Trevino Garcia drove the car of people they did not know and followed it into an apartment complex. She claimed Trevino Garcia did not have any weapons on him when he approached the vehicle and that he left a knife on the floor of the car before walking over.

Other witnesses who lived in the complex and spoke to police said they observed the suspect carrying a knife or gun, which he handed to the woman in his vehicle before approaching his suspected stolen car.

The caller said Trevino Garcia was trying to pull the key fob out of the Kia when an argument broke out. She told police the occupants of the Kia tried to stab Trevino Garcia and he took the knife away from them and then stabbed the driver.

During the APD’s investigation, they learned that there were two other passengers in the car who left the scene of the accident. Police spoke with one of those passengers, who said the driver drove into the apartment complex to buy drugs.

After finding out the dealer was not there, she told police she got back in the car when Trevino Garcia arrived. During her statement to police, she claimed the suspect was carrying a knife in his right hand.