Police affidavit details events leading to Philomena Street shooting in April
AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin Police detective’s affidavit details the events leading up to an April 27 murder outside of an apartment complex near Mueller, including information from CCTV footage and an interview with a witness.
The detective said that surveillance camera footage shows the victim, Samantha Fernandez, approach a red pickup truck before being shot in the head. The truck left the scene immediately after, according to the affidavit.
“At approximately 4:45 [a.m.], I received a phone call from Deputy Rodriguez with the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office stating that he and other deputies had located the red Chevrolet pickup abandoned on the side of the road,” the detective said. “Deputy Rodriguez told me that two subjects, [a witness] and suspect Gonzalo Mendoza-Gonzalez, had been detained at a closed gas station a short distance away.”
Officers reportedly seized a handgun from Mendoza-Gonzalez while detaining him on April 28, which was allegedly loaded with 9mm rounds matching casings found at the scene, according to the affidavit.
According to Travis County jail records, Mendoza-Gonzalez was arrested May 2 and faced three charges: first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and deadly conduct. He remained in jail on bonds totaling $750,000 as of Friday.
KXAN reached out his attorney for comment.
Revenge for Cheating?
The detective said he interviewed the witness and Mendoza-Gonzalez at the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.
“[The witness] stated that she discovered Mendoza-Gonzalez was cheating on her with another woman. [The witness], who lives with Mendoza-Gonzalez, said she was angry about this and was going to take some of Mendoza-Gonzalez’s clothing,” the affidavit read.
Fernandez and the witness went to Mendoza-Gonzalez’s home on April 25, according to the affidavit. While allegedly taking clothing, Fernandez also took Mendoza-Gonzalez’s AR-15 rifle.
“[The witness] told Fernandez not to take the rifle, but Fernandez told her that she was going to sell the rifle because she needed money to bail her boyfriend out of jail,” the detective wrote. “On April 27, 2025, Mendoza-Gonzalez confronted [the witness] about Fernandez taking the rifle.”
According to the affidavit, the witness claimed that Mendoza-Gonzalez threatened her and her family and made her drive him to get bullets. He then allegedly had her load the gun and text Fernandez to come outside to the truck.
After the shooting, Mendoza-Gonzalez allegedly forced the witness to drive them out of Austin. The truck ran out of gas, which led to them walking to the gas station.
