Sara Mutschlechner: Police Continue Search For Road Rage Shooter Who Killed College Student
Denton, Texas, authorities are still searching for the person responsible for killing North Texas University student Sara Mutschlechner over New Year’s Eve, in what appears to be a road rage shooting that left the sorority sister dead.
New York Daily News reports that Mutschlechner, 20, was acting as a designated driver on December 31, after a night out with her University of North Texas Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sisters, where they attended a party off of Crisoforo Drive. At around 2:30 a.m., a black Toyota or Lexus SUV carrying five or six men inside pulled up beside Mutschlechner and her friends. The men inside the SUV began arguing with the girls inside Mutschlechner’s vehicle, and one of the men began shooting.
Denton police just released this picture of 20-yr-old Sara Mutschlechner's car. She was shot while driving this a.m. pic.twitter.com/Vl7J1VRMbn
— Jason Allen (@JasonAllenLive) January 1, 2016
A bullet hit Mutschlechner in the head, causing her to crash her vehicle into an electrical pole. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died. According to Denton police officer Shane Kizer, authorities are hoping someone who attended the same party as Mutschlechner and her friends can help identify the men in the SUV. At least two of the men in the SUV were reportedly at the party, according to witnesses.
“We’re sure that a lot of people at the party would’ve recognized who was in that vehicle and maybe be able to tell us who they were. We’ve got a lot of people that we’re wanting to talk with at this time.”
According to a press release issued by the Denton Police Department, the occupants in the SUV were black males. Although they already have a few leads to go on, authorities still aren’t releasing any suspects’ names until more people are questioned.
“Denton Police are trying to locate the black Lexus SUV. It was occupied by five or six African American males. Witnesses said at least two of the occupants were at a New Year’s Eve party on Crisoforo Drive early this morning.”
Denis McInerny, a DJ at the party, told the Dallas Morning News that there were around 60 people at the party, and even though he didn’t see any kind of altercation, something may have happened outside as the partygoers were leaving. He admitted that it surprised him to hear that shooting was related to the party, indicating that the crowd was friendly.
“The whole shooting thing caught me off-guard judging by the crowd that was there. I didn’t think the events were related in any way.”
Mutschlechner, who grew up in Martindale, Texas, graduated from San Marcos High School, where friends and neighbors remember her as a sweet, outgoing, and optimistic teenager who had big dreams of working in radio, television, and film. She was a junior at the University of North Texas, and supplemented her income through jobs as a photographer at Smiling Eyes Photo Gallery and as a server at Frilly’s Seafood Bayou Kitchen.
The 20-year-old was also athletic, and earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She aspired to one day open up her own martial arts facility. Her sorority sister, Taylor Phillips, said that Mutschlechner had a “wide array” of friends across campus due to her varied interests and upbeat nature.
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the men in the SUV, including anyone who attended the party and may have taken pictures or videos of the event.
“Investigators are asking that anyone who attended the party and took pictures or video to please contact Investigator Beckwith at 940-349-7974.”
[Photo Courtesy of the Mutschlechner Family via Facebook]
