Austin, TX
Police reveal how college student died after attending tailgate party
AUSTIN, Texas (Gray News) – Police in Texas have revealed more information about what happened to a Texas A&M sophomore who was found dead Saturday after attending a tailgate party.
In a Thursday morning news conference, police said they found substantial evidence that 19-year-old Brianna Aguilera died by suicide.
Her body was found outside an apartment complex early Saturday morning after officials said she fell from a 17th-floor unit.
Police said while they typically do not comment publicly about a suicide, national attention surrounding Aguilera’s death has caused a swell of inaccurate information and speculation.
“It is not common for a police department to speak publicly about a death by suicide. But inaccurate information has circulated and been reported,” said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. “And that has led to additional harm of innocent people, bullying included, and their families. There have also been statements suggesting the police have failed to do our jobs. Those statements are not accurate.”
Police said Aguilera attended a tailgate party earlier in the evening and was asked to leave around 10 p.m. because of her level of intoxication.
The camera system at the apartment complex she returned to helped establish a timeline of what happened next.
Surveillance video showed Aguilera arriving at the apartment complex at 11 p.m. and going to a unit on the 17th floor.
Around 12:30 a.m., a large group of people left the apartment, leaving Aguilera and three other young women inside.
Phone records show Aguilera had a one-minute phone call with an out-of-town boyfriend from 12:43 to 12:44 a.m. Witnesses said she argued on the phone, which was later confirmed by the boyfriend.
Just two minutes later, at 12:46 a.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting Aguilera’s body was found outside.
Aguilera was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:56 a.m. Police said she had trauma “consistent with having fallen from a higher floor.”
Further investigation of Aguilera’s phone found she had written and deleted a suicide note dated Nov. 25, which was dedicated to specific people in her life.
Friends told police Aguilera had made suicidal comments beginning in October. A text message to a friend earlier in the evening of her death also indicated thoughts of suicide, police said.
Police said at no point during the investigation did any evidence point to criminal activity.
Investigators said after speaking with friends and family, it was “very apparent” how loved Aguilera was, and that “every friend and witness has been nothing but forthcoming and open.”
Despite the police ruling, Aguilera’s family has hired legal representation to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, according to KGNS.
Aguilera was originally from the Laredo area and was a graduate of United High School, where she was a cheerleader and honors student, KBTX reports.
A GoFundMe was set up by family members to help cover funeral expenses.
If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.
Copyright 2025 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
AUSTIN, Texas – Central Texans gather to celebrate Juneteenth or “Freedom Day” on June 19 and commemorate the end of slavery.
What you can do:
The Greater East Austin Youth Association (GEAYA) is hosting the Central Texas Juneteenth Parade and Festival today (6/19).
It’s free and taking place at Rosewood Park in East Austin located at 2300 Rosewood Ave.
The schedule for the events is as follows:
- ACME Juneteenth FunRun – 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Juneteenth Historical Parade – 10 AM – 12 PM
- Park Celebration and Fireworks – 12 PM – 9:45 PM
Other events
On June 20, the Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition will be taking place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center located at 1165 Angelina Street.
It will be a day of celebration and remembrance and there will be BBQ plates and music as well as vendors and hands-on activations.
The backstory:
Juneteenth commemorates the end of formal slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and more than one month following the end of the American Civil War.
Colloquially known as “The Black 4th of July,” Juneteenth marks the beginning of an African American journey to carve a new place in society for free people to shape identities independent of racial caricature, eradicate slave culture, promote ethnic pride, and create economic prosperity.
The Source: Information from City of Austin and Greater East Austin Youth Association and reporting by Jessica Rivera.
Juneteenth celebrations are happening across the city this weekend. The events will mark the 161st anniversary of the day Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement on June 19, 1865, came more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19 — known as Juneteenth — became a federal holiday in 2021.
From historical bike rides to Austin’s annual parade, here are seven events taking place in Austin.
Annual Juneteenth FunRun, June 19
The city of Austin’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility will host a fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at East Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Leona Street, and concluding at Hargrave Street near the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex. Participants will have one hour to complete the course. The route is the same as the parade through the African American Historical Cultural District that will start later that morning. Runners and walkers of all ages and levels can participate.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival, June 19
The annual Juneteenth parade will take place Friday and begin at 10 a.m. at East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street and will travel down to Chicon Street before turning on Rosewood Avenue. The parade will feature floats, live music and performers.
A Very Juneteenth Comedy Jam, June 19
The Velveeta Room, Austin’s longest-running comedy club, will have shows highlighting Black voices Friday night at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 18+ event will feature comedians like Freddy Do Less and Roderick McDaniel. Tickets for both shows are around $23.
Sistas Walk And Talk: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
Texas Sistas Society will host a 3-mile walk and talk Saturday at 515 S. Pleasant Valley Road starting at 7:45 a.m. Texas Sistas Society is an Austin-based community created for Black women and women of color. Attendees are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors: red, yellow, green or black, and to RSVP ahead of time.
The Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
The George Washington Carver Museum in Austin is dedicated to creating a “space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated.” The museum is hosting a free celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with barbecue plates, live music, vendors and activities for all ages.
Black Auteur Film Festival, June 20
The Black Auteur Film Festival, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black filmmakers in Texas, is hosting its third annual film festival to showcase short films directed by Black Texans at AFS Cinema on Saturday. One filmmaker will win the $1,000 “Best of Fest” award, and attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to win Austin Film Society memberships and movie tickets. The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14.
Juneteenth Social Ride, June 21
Black History Bike Ride, an Austin nonprofit teaching people about the city’s Black history through cycling, is hosting its seventh annual Juneteenth ride starting at the Haskell House on Saturday at 10 a.m. Austin-based historian Harrison Eppright will serve as the ride’s guide. Registration is required for all attendees. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data analyst Corey Yeung created the ATX Running Guide to help runners find community across Central Texas. What started as a personal project has become one of Austin’s most comprehensive running resources.
Looking for a Run Club? There’s a Map for That
When Corey Yeung moved to Austin three years ago, he had a simple question:
“How many run clubs are actually out there?” The answer wasn’t easy to find. While several websites listed local groups, Yeung felt none offered a complete picture. So, he decided to build one himself. What started as a spreadsheet evolved into ATX Running Guide, a website and social media platform that helps runners discover clubs throughout the Austin area.
“The list would be more useful if it were a map and search tool,” Yeung said. “The Instagram page was simply a way to communicate those free resources to the community.”
Today, the guide covers running groups from San Marcos to Hutto and serves as a one-stop resource for runners looking to connect. In this episode of KXAN’S Plus Simple Health, Corey Yeung walks us through everything you need to know about the 200-plus running clubs in Austin.
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