2 days ago
Man negotiates plea deal, gets charges dropped to murder in deadly hookah lounge shooting
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County District Attorney's Office rejected a capital murder charge for a man connected to a shooting that happened at a northwest Austin hookah lounge in January 2023, according to court documents.
Christijan Stevens will serve a term of life in prison of not more than 99 years or less than five years in prison. Additionally, he will have to pay a fine not to exceed $10,000, according to court records.
Suspect in northwest Austin hookah lounge shooting arrested, charge with capital murder
The rejection on the capital murder charge comes after Stevens negotiated a plea deal where he pleaded guilty to two murder charges. He had to admit that he committed both counts of murder to negotiate the plea.
Stevens was accused on the capital murder charge after he was arrested for his involvement in the shooting, according to the Austin Police Department. It happened at the Moon Palace Hookah Lounge at 12636 Research Blvd. on Jan. 28, 2023.
At the time, Stevens was the only shooter who fired shots from inside the hookah lounge, according to police.
Brayden Bolyard, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jaitron Tatum, 18, also later died from gunshot wounds, according to APD.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
