Austin Winn, inset (via obituary). Background photo: Google Maps image of location where Winn was found shot to death.
“Happy Mother’s Day. I love you. I’ll be home to eat dinner with you this evening.”
Those were the last words that Austin Winn, a 26-year-old man from Tecumseh, Oklahoma, said to his mother on May 12 — Mother’s Day — before he was found shot to death next to his truck in Midland, Texas.
It is not yet clear how or why Winn was killed and his family, according to ABC affiliate KOCO, said he was on a route he regularly takes without issue when he hauls horses from Texas back to Oklahoma.
Winn’s sister, Ashlyn Jones, told the outlet that the family was notified by the Pott’s County Sheriff’s Office a few hours after Winn had sent the text that he had been found dead. Jones described her mother as “hysterical” upon learning the news.
“No one should ever have to go through this. That it was so careless, and Austin would not hurt anyone, and I feel like he had no idea it was coming,” Jones said, adding he believes it was a drive-by shooting or a premeditated attack of some kind.
The Midland County Sheriff’s Office also believes it may have been foul play, according to a statement released on Facebook on May 13. Sheriffs have not released any further statements about the case for now. A spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.
Authorities said they arrived on the 10,000 Block of South FM 1788 in Midland County to respond to a “medical call.”
Winn’s family members said they believe he was shot while stopping for gas.
In an online obituary, Winn’s family said he had a lifelong passion for livestock transporting and that started when he began working with his father at 16 years old.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked by the family and police to please call Midland Crime Stoppers at 432-694-TIPS.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
