AUSTIN, TX – Police in Austin have identified the man found dead near a Northeast Austin bus stop as 66-year-old Jeffrey Grable and say they are searching for the man believed to have assaulted him early Tuesday morning.
Officers responded to the 1000 block of Norwood Park Boulevard at 5:17 a.m. after someone reported a person lying on the ground and bleeding. Grable was pronounced dead at 5:34 a.m., according to police.
Investigators said the death is being handled as a homicide. The Austin Police Department’s homicide detectives and forensic specialists processed the scene as they began piecing together what happened before sunrise.
Police say Grable had been at the bus stop for hours before the attack
Detectives determined Grable had laid down near the bus stop several hours before officers arrived. Police said an unknown man then approached him, assaulted him, and ran away.
That timeline suggests the encounter happened well before the emergency call that brought officers to the area. Authorities have not said what led up to the attack or whether the two men knew each other.
The bus stop sits along a busy stretch of Northeast Austin, and investigators are treating nearby businesses and cameras as important pieces of the case. Police said they are working to establish a clear sequence of events from the time Grable was last seen alive to the moment officers were dispatched.
Suspect description released to the public
Police described the suspect as a Black man in his 30s who is about 6 feet tall and weighs roughly 185 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, black pants, white shoes, and a backwards cap.
That description was released as investigators tried to widen the search beyond the immediate scene. Police have not said whether the man was known to officers before Tuesday or whether they have identified a vehicle connected to the case.
Anyone who saw a man matching that description in the area of Norwood Park Boulevard early Tuesday may have information that could help investigators. Police are asking people to come forward with any details, no matter how small they may seem.
Detectives reviewed nearby businesses and security video
As part of the investigation, officers canvassed the area, spoke with nearby businesses, and reviewed surveillance footage from a Walmart and a gas station close to the bus stop.
Cpl. Jose Mendez of the Austin Police Department said the attack does not appear to be random and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. He said investigators want to reassure Grable’s family that they will work to determine what happened and identify the person responsible.
Police also said residents and commuters may notice a larger law enforcement presence in the area while detectives continue their work. That added presence is meant to support the investigation and monitor the surrounding neighborhood as officers follow up on leads.
How investigators are asking the public for help
Austin police are asking anyone with information, photos, or videos related to the case to contact the department at (512) 974-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling (512) 472-8477.
Investigators said outside video or phone footage could be especially useful because the assault happened in an area where people may have been driving, walking, or stopping at nearby businesses before dawn. Even short clips or a still image could help officers confirm the suspect’s route or movements.
Police have not announced an arrest. For now, the case remains an active homicide investigation centered on identifying the suspect and learning what led to Grable’s death.
Austin records its 45th homicide of 2026
Police said the case is Austin’s 45th homicide of 2026, adding to a year that has already seen multiple deadly investigations. The city has not released any additional information about whether this case is connected to other violent incidents.
For investigators, the focus remains on a single early-morning attack and the search for a man they believe ran from the scene after assaulting Grable. The fact that the victim was found near a bus stop has also put attention on a public place where people routinely pass through before and after dawn.
Authorities have not released a motive, and police have not said why they believe the attack was not random. For now, they are asking the public to help close the gap between what was seen on Norwood Park Boulevard and what happened before officers arrived.
