The campsite in the median at 2500 E Riverside Drive has a problem with murder – specifically that’s there’s too much murder. Since the campsite appeared in early 2020 following Austin City Council’s June 2019 repeal of the camping ordinance, violent crime has plagued the median and surrounding areas within walking distance of the camp. Last night, the Murder Median area tallied two additional homicides.
According to KXAN, the first homicide last night was around midnight where a victim with a gunshot injury was located southwest of the camp by Burton Drive and Oltorf Street. The second homicide was reported one hour later at the campsite where a second victim was found shot in a tent.
Previous homicides in and around Murder Median include:
10-25-2020 – Man shot to death at 2400 E Riverside
11-24-2020 – Drive-by shooting at Riverside and Pleasant Valley. The suspects were later identified and charged in two different road rage murders.
12-7-2020 – Man stabbed to death at 2400 E Riverside
3-21-21 – Man shot to death at 2200 E Riverside
According to the Austin Police Department Crime Viewer, at least 74 aggravated assaults, 32 robberies, 89 burglaries of residences and buildings, 83 stolen cars, 352 thefts, 2 arson cases, and 822 other crimes have been reported since August 31, 2020 within 2000 feet of the campsite. Fortunately, a level one trauma center is within a short distance of the camp. Otherwise more the many aggravated assault victims in and around the camp would likely have died.
The primary purpose of any government is to provide security for its citizens. The Austin City Council is failing at protecting the residents around this campsite and other campsites around the city, so it came as no surprise in May of this year that Austinites voted 63% in favor of reinstating the camping ban.
Texas legislators, apparently also not happy to come to work in Austin and see the mess, made an example out of the Austin City Council’s failed policy and banned public camping statewide with House Bill 1925.
The Austin City Council owes it to the residents on Riverside to clean up the mess it made, follow the will of Austin voters, and restore law and order to the East Riverside Drive median.