UPDATE: A 19-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder following a deadly shooting linked to an alleged drug deal in Del Valle earlier this month. The incident, which left one person dead, unfolded on January 7, 2023, at a gas station on Elroy Road, southeast of Austin.
According to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Nicholas Cole Thomas met with two other men to purchase a THC vape cartridge. During the meeting, Thomas allegedly attempted to rob them while seated in the back of their vehicle. Witnesses report that all three individuals involved exchanged gunfire, escalating the situation into chaos.
Authorities were alerted just after midnight and arrived at the scene to find Thomas with gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Tragically, Ashwym Basil, another 19-year-old involved in the encounter, was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m.
Thomas was arrested shortly after the incident and remains in custody as the investigation continues. The sheriff’s office has not released further details about the circumstances leading to the shooting, but the community is reeling from the violence.
This incident sheds light on the dangers associated with the illicit drug trade, particularly among young individuals. As authorities continue to investigate, residents of Del Valle are left questioning the safety of their neighborhoods.
What happens next? The court proceedings for Thomas are expected to commence soon, and further updates are anticipated from the sheriff’s office as they piece together the events that led to this tragic loss of life. Stay tuned for more developments on this urgent story.
