The suspect in a 2024 shooting that was initially presented as an attempted suicide has been charged with murder.
FOX 7 reported that Irean Demuchest, 34, of Austin, was charged with murdering her cousin, Samantha Demuchest.
On June 21, 2024, police received a 911 call about a fight at an apartment complex on South 1st Street. Shortly after, Irean called 911 and claimed her cousin had killed herself.
Officers initially had trouble entering the home, but the defendant eventually answered the door. They found Samantha on the ground with a gunshot wound and Demuchest holding Samantha’s infant.
Though Demuchest tried to present the shooting as a suicide attempt, Samantha told officers before being taken to the hospital that Irean had shot her.
“Samantha was able to tell officers that Irean had shot her and was then transported to a local hospital,” APD said.
Demuchest was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated assault/family violence with serious bodily injury, according to KXAN.
On November 12, 2024, Samantha died after spending the remainder of her life as a paraplegic due to the shooting. An autopsy released by the Austin Police Department determined her death resulted from complications related to a gunshot wound to the neck. Her death was classified as a homicide.
Demuchest remains in Travis County jail and is charged with first-degree murder.
