Travis County Jury Convicts Man of Double Murder and Collision Involving Death
Travis County, TX — On Thursday, February 26, 2026, a Travis County jury convicted Tyrone Thompson, 25, of two counts of both Murder and Collision Involving Death for the deaths of Cody Shelton, 26, and William Dunham, 34, in a fatal hit-and-run crash during South by Southwest in March 2024.
On Monday, February 23, 2026, jury selection started for Thompson’s trial, and the State began presenting evidence and witnesses on the following day. On Thursday, February 26, the jury deliberated and found Thompson guilty of two counts of both Murder and Collision Involving Death. On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the judge sentenced Thompson to 40 years for each Murder charge and 10 years for each Collision Involving Death charge. All sentences will be served concurrently within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On March 12, 2024, Austin Police Department officers responded to a crash involving a vehicle and two pedestrians at the intersection of East 7th Street and Red River Street. The suspect driver did not remain at the scene of the crash. One of the pedestrians, Cody Shelton, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other pedestrian, William Dunham, 34, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. As the investigation progressed, detectives identified the suspected driver as Tyrone Thompson and charged him with Murder in Shelton’s death.
On the same morning as the fatal collision, Thompson was later involved in another crash in Travis County and was arrested on unrelated charges by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 15, 2024, the Austin Police Department charged Thompson with a second Murder charge after William Dunham died from his injuries.
On June 3, 2024, Thompson was indicted with the offenses of Murder, Intoxication Manslaughter, Manslaughter, and Collision Involving Death in the case of Cody Shelton and also of William Dunham.
Assistant District Attorneys Emily Scholten and Matt Foye presented the case against Tyrone Thompson with the support of Victim Counselors Julie Sweeney and Whitney Allen, Investigators Daniel Evans and John Holliday, Paralegal Sonya Leathers, and Legal Secretary Monica Hernandez. Austin Police Department Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives Melony Bowman and Douglas Drake investigated the case against Thompson.
“Our hearts continue to break for the Shelton and Dunham families,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope that these convictions will continue to support their healing process. Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for both victims and their families.”
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