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Austin Police Charge 21-Year-Old in Cabana Club Killing After Parking-Lot Fight

Police say evidence shows the victim was shot while walking away, countering a self-defense claim raised by the suspect’s employer.

Overview

  • Ryan Lara, 21, was arrested and charged with murder after Friday’s shooting outside East Austin’s Cabana Club, the city’s 20th homicide of 2026.
  • Police identified the man who died as Richard Barr and say he was shot in the back while moving away across the parking lot.
  • Two other people were also shot in the same incident, with one still in critical condition and the other released from the hospital.
  • Detectives have interviewed several witnesses and asked for tips through Capital Area Crime Stoppers, which offers a reward of up to $1,000.
  • The owner of Central Texas Gun Works says Lara acted in self-defense, but an arrest affidavit cites witnesses who describe Lara as the aggressor, and his next court setting is May 19.