Austin man in custody after two different reports of shots fired; investigation ongoing

An Austin man is in custody after authorities responded to two different reports of shots being fired in Austin early Monday morning.  

Abella

Officers from the Austin Police Department and Mower County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the first report at 1:02 a.m. Monday morning from a residence in the 300 block of South Main Street, and another at 1:09 a.m. on the 800 block of 6th Avenue Southeast.  Chief of Police Dave McKichan reported that officers located two spent .40 caliber shell casings in the roadway at 310 South Main Street, and one of the bullets was found to have struck the side of a Chevy Equinox.   He added that 16 spent 9 mm shell casings were discovered at the 6th Avenue location, and a single bullet was found to have struck a parked Honda Odyssey.  

Chief McKichan stated that there were no known injuries reported to law enforcement, and he went on to state that 20-year old Manamany Abella was taken into custody, where he is facing a felony charge of dangerous weapons, drive-by shooting towards people. 

McKichan indicated that both cases remain under active investigation, and he added that the two incidents are believed to possibly be related.  He went on to add that members of the public should also inspect their property and vehicles for any damage, especially in and around the 800 and 900 blocks of 6th Avenue Southeast.