Affidavit: 18-year-old arrested in connection with southeast Austin homicide

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An 18-year-old was arrested after he was accused of murder in connection with a southeast Austin homicide, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Court records identified that person as Stephon Martin Morson. KXAN has reached out to his attorney for a statement. We will update this if one is received.

On Oct. 16, the Austin Police Department responded to the 2100 block of Burton Drive for a report of a man who was shot around 10:33 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man "with an apparent gunshot wound to the head," court records said. That man was later identified by police as 20-year-old Keshawn Cage. He was pronounced dead at 10:57 p.m., according to the affidavit.

The next day, police were called to an apartment complex near where the murder happened after an employee of the complex found a hoodie, shoes and handgun, court records said.

When police arrived at the apartment complex, they found a "Nike hoodie and Yeezy shoes" in the dumpster nearby. The handgun was found in the parking lot by the employee, according to the affidavit. Police also found blood on the shoes.

Cameras near the area of the murder showed Morson wearing the hoodie and shoes that were recovered by police the night the murder happened, court records said. A witness told an APD officer who patrols the area they saw Morson shoot Cage.

What led to the shooting

Court records indicate Morson and Cage knew each other. The witness who spoke with police said Morson accused Cage of "being a snitch" in connection with a disturbance that happened Aug. 31.

A person believed to be Morson's roommate was accused of shooting Cage in that disturbance, which resulted in their arrest, court documents said. Morson believed Cage "cooperated with law enforcement," which led to that arrest, according to the affidavit.

After police found the hoodie, shoes and handgun, Morson was called and asked to speak with investigators on Oct. 17.

Cameras near the murder showed Morson walking in the area around 10:54 p.m. In that footage, he was seen "shirtless," court records said. He told police he wasn't wearing a shirt or shoes at the time the murder happened.

However, investigators found "bloody footprints leading away from the crime scene" near the parking lot where the hoodie, shoes and handgun were found, according to the affidavit.

On Oct. 21, Morson was arrested for tampering with physical evidence. He was then interviewed by the APD Homicide unit.

Records showed Morson initially denied being near the murder when it happened. However, he was shown evidence and then admitted to being near the murder, according to the affidavit. He told police he heard the gunshot but didn't know who shot Cage.