Witnesses describe moments before fatal northwest Austin shooting

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The victim in a May 28 aggravated assault died over a day later, leading Austin Police to upgrade its charge against a man whom it accused of pulling the trigger.

Waleed Beriji, 27, was charged with one felony count of first-degree murder.

According to an APD arrest affidavit, Beriji allegedly pulled a gun and shot Noah Talbott, 26, during a disturbance in the 7100 block of Wood Hollow Drive in Austin.

The affiant, an APD detective, wrote that they and other officers spoke with multiple eyewitnesses at the scene. They allegedly identified Beriji as the shooter, according to APD.

One of the witnesses told APD the two men used drugs earlier that evening, and that the disturbance was over a debt Talbott owed Beriji. The argument lasted about an hour and a half, according to another witness, when Talbott asked Beriji to leave.

"[Witness] saw Waleed reach into a backpack, pull out a gun, and point the gun at Noah's head. [Witness] stated that Noah did not present a threat. He had his hands up," wrote the APD detective.

The alleged standoff between the two men lasted "20-30 seconds" before Beriji allegedly fired the handgun, according to APD. Talbott was struck in the head.

One of the witnesses tried to stop the bleeding while others called 911. First responders took Talbott to Dell Seton Hospital minutes after midnight on May 29. He died from his injuries on May 30.

Beriji was initially booked into Travis County Jail around 3 p.m. on May 29. As of noon Monday, he was still in the Travis County Jail.

If you have any tips or information about this incident, call the homicide tip line at 512-974-8472 or call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. This is Austin's 26th homicide of 2025.