APD: 43-year-old man arrested in connection with homicide after crash near Barton Springs
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 43-year-old man was arrested on a murder charge in connection with a homicide that happened Monday near Barton Springs, according to an Austin Police Department news release.
That man was identified as Arthur Robert Richter, according to police. He was booked into the Travis County Jail, where he remained as of Wednesday, according to online court records.
No attorney information was available for Richter Wednesday. KXAN will reach out for a statement on Richter’s charges
Around 3:09 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the 700 block of Azie Morton Road for a report of a disturbance. Police said the complainant was identified as Richter. He said a person had “displayed a firearm to him” and then left the area, the release said.
Then, around 3:22 p.m., APD said it received multiple calls that a man was “flung off the hood” of a vehicle that left the area. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man on the ground, who police identified Wednesday as 63-year-old James Hough. Police said he “sustained apparent trauma to his body” from falling off the vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 4:36 p.m., the release said.
An investigation into the incident revealed Richter first called in a disturbance for the first person who left the area prior to an officer arriving. Then, Richter stayed on the scene and later got into a “second altercation” with another person, who was later identified as Hough, according to police.
According to police, Richter “assaulted” Hough, took his cellphone and then went back to his vehicle. Hough then stood in front of the Richter’s vehicle, and then he climbed on top of the hood to try and get his cellphone. That is when Richter “drove out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed” while Hough was still on the hood. Richter then “slammed the brakes,” which threw Hough from the vehicle. Hough then struck the ground, “ultimately causing his death,” police said. Richter then drove away from the area.
A warrant was issued for Richter on Tuesday. He was then arrested Wednesday by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Temple for the alleged murder, according to police.
