Travis County Jury Convicts Man Charged with Murder

Travis County, TX — On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, a Travis County jury convicted Adam Brown, 25, of Murder.

For Mr. Brown’s trial, jury selection started on Monday, April 7, 2025, and testimony began the following day. On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the jury started deliberations and on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, found Mr. Brown guilty of Murder. On the same day, the defense argued sudden passion, and the jurors agreed and sentenced Mr. Brown to serve eight years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and reduced the punishment range from first-degree to second-degree. Since the jury found sufficient evidence of sudden passion during the trial’s punishment phase, they were allowed to consider reducing the punishment range to that of a second-degree offense.

On March 24, 2024, the Austin Police Department arrested Mr. Brown and charged him with the offense of Murder for the death of Christopher Rodriguez, 44, that took place on March 23, 2024. On May 9, 2024, Mr. Brown was indicted for the offense of Murder.

On March 23, 2024, the defendant and his girlfriend were walking their two dogs when they got into an argument with Mr. Rodriguez after one of their dogs barked and lunged at him. During the altercation, Mr. Rodriguez allegedly threatened to kill the dogs and crossed the street to retrieve a tree branch. In response, the defendant and his girlfriend retreated to their apartment, after which the defendant returned armed with a gun and his girlfriend with a bat.

As the confrontation continued, Mr. Rodriguez threw a tree branch at the defendant, but it missed him and caused no damage to his property. Two neighbors who witnessed the scene immediately called 911. One neighbor observed Mr. Rodriguez standing in the grass without any weapons in his hands when the defendant shot him in the chest, which could be heard on the 911 call.

The defendant later attempted to justify his actions by claiming self-defense, asserting that Mr. Rodriguez had threatened him with a knife, bent down to reach for a rock, and sprinted toward him. However, the evidence contradicted his version of events.

Assistant District Attorneys Jacob Salinas and Destinee Williams presented the case against Mr. Brown with the support of Victim Counselor Lolita Rattler, Investigator Fred Spencer, Paralegal Devota Swenson, and Legal Secretary Monica Hernandez. Austin Police Department’s Detectives Christopher Anderson and Nicholas Gebhart investigated Mr. Brown’s case.

“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim and his family,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope this verdict continues to help the victim’s family with their healing journey.”

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