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Police: Homicide victim was shot in the head

05:29 PM CST on Monday, December 17, 2007

KVUE News staff reports

Austin police answered questions about a weekend homicide.

A man was shot in the head early Saturday morning on Rutland Drive in North Austin.

Police markings still highlight where Fernando Santander, 31, was found dead.

Around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning police found his body in his white work van, slumped over with a bullet wound to the head.

The van was parked just a few yards away from the victim’s apartment unit.

Two days later shards of glass from the van window still lay on the concrete.

"I stay right by the building right here, not even 20 feet I just heard a noise," said Paul Ortega, Santander’s neighbor.

Ortega lived above Santander at the Austin Commons apartment complex. He said Santander moved in about three months ago. Ortega heard the gunshot Saturday morning.

"I was freaking out because I was like man something must have happened right here. I figured the bang was a tire blowing out or something but when I found out it was a gunshot and cops were around I knew it was more serious. That didn't sit too well with me," said Ortega.

Santander was last seen leaving the Rodeo nightclub around 2:30 Saturday morning.

Authorities are now trying to figure out what happened between then and 5:30 a.m. when his body was found.

"He was with several people inside the club, we know he spoke with several people outside the club, what we don't know is whether he left the club with anyone else or went to go see someone," said Rogelio Sanchez, APD homicide detective.

Rodeo club owner Jason Najjar said Santander was a regular and nothing out of the ordinary happened Friday night.

"I don't remember him ever having any arguments with people at the club, he was just like I remember him always sweating because he's dancing a lot," said Najjar.

Neighbors said there is crime in the community, but police keep a strong presence and murder is unusual.

"I don't think people take people randomly. I'm sure it was just personal business for different reasons," said Ortega.

Police have talked to several of Santander's co-workers and family members, but detectives said they still don't have a suspect or a motive.

If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 472-TIPS.

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