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Victim shot in face during Austin shooting allegedly says girl ‘set him up;’ one charged

According to Austin police, they found a victim covered in blood with a bullet hole in his upper lip when they arrived at the scene.

AUSTIN — More than a week after a victim was shot in the face during a northeast Austin shooting, a 17-year-old has been charged in connection to the incident.

According to an arrest affidavit, police responded to a call involving someone being shot in the face at 11:25 p.m. near 11316 Farmhaven Road on Aug. 13.

When police arrived on the scene, they reportedly found a victim covered in blood with a bullet hole in his upper lip. The victim reportedly then told police that a girl had "set him up" and was transported to the Dell Seton Medical Center.

Upon further investigation, the victim reportedly told police he was supposed to meet up with a girl at Bluebonnet Elementary School to have sex, but was shot by three people when he arrived. Police said they found a car covered in bullet holes and several shell casings near the area where the shooting was reported.

According to the affidavit, police were able to read messages between the victim and the girl. During an interview with police, the girl allegedly told them that her boyfriend, identified as Syncere Lester, 17, planned and arranged the robbery. The girl then told police that Lester and his friends hid behind a ditch near the elementary school when she met with the victim.

Police said when the victim arrived at the school, Lester and three other suspects ran up to his car and attacked him.

Lester allegedly admitted to police that he sent a message about robbing the victim the night of the shooting.

During an interview with KVUE reporter Molly Oak, a neighbor recalled hearing a knock on her door the night of the incident.

“Dude came to the house, he was knocking on the door. By the time I got to the door, he was already gone, but I looked out there on my wall, blood prints were everywhere,” said Yvonda Jeffries, who has lived on the street for two years. “Then he ran across the street, blood was everywhere, everywhere."

LISTEN: Gunshots heard at scene of teen shooting in northeast Austin

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Jeffries said her friend called 911 after they heard the teen yelling for help.

"He was hollering and screaming and just yelling, ‘Please help me, please help me, I've been shot,’" Jeffries recalled.

"The street was covered,” said Jeffries. “There were guns everywhere. It was like something on TV."

According to police, the victim was still recovering in the hospital several days after the incident.

Lester has been charged with aggravated robbery and his bond is set at $200,000. According to online records, Lester is not in police custody as of Aug. 21.

Anyone with more information is asked to call police at 512-974-491, or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS. People can also text "Tip 103" plus your message to CRIMES.

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