Port Aransas Beach shooting leaves 22-year-old spring breaker dead

Update at 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12:

The 22-year-old man, who was shot and killed in a shooting on Port Aransas Beach, has been identified as Kristopher Wayne Walker, according to Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs. Walker was fatally shot on Monday, March 11. 

A 19-year-old man was also shot but is expected to recover, Burroughs said. The shooting took place just before midnight on Port Aransas Beach. Burroughs said officers were dispersing a large crowd on the beach when they heard about 10 shots on the side of the big group.

Officials are searching for the shooter as of Tuesday, March 12. Burroughs said the shooter was reportedly last seen driving a gray or silver vehicle believed to be a newer model BMW with dark rims. He added the alleged shooter knew the 22-year-old man and believed the cause was some sort of “personal vendetta.” 

Original story: 

A 22-year-old man is dead after a fatal shooting occurred in a large crowd on Port Aransas Beach on Monday, according to Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs. A 19-year-old man was also injured during the March 11 shooting, Burroughs told MySA.

The shooting took place just before midnight at mile marker 42 on Port Aransas Beach. Burroughs said officers were dispersing a large crowd on the beach when they heard about 10 shots on the side of the big group. People began running from the location and police found a 22-year-old man from Ingleside with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Six minutes later, officers received a call regarding a 19-year-old man from Alice with a gunshot wound in the abdomen. Burroughs confirmed the gunshot was from the original shooting in the crowd. The 19-year-old man underwent surgery and is expected to survive, Burroughs said. 

Burroughs said they have details of the shooter and are searching for him. He added the alleged shooter knew the 22-year-old man and believed the cause was some sort of “personal vendetta.” 

The incident is the first shooting Port Aransas has had on the beach since the city implemented an alcohol curfew in 2015, Burroughs said. Beachgoers are not permitted to have open containers past 6 p.m. on the beach, he reported. 

“Despite this shooting, we’re actually a very safe community,” Burroughs said. “This is not something that occurs on a regular basis. It was truly an anomaly.”

As spring break continues, Burroughs advises others to remember city laws, even if you’re on vacation. He asked others to not get caught up in the moment and become heavily intoxicated. The police chief said almost all of the city’s calls result from people being intoxicated. 

For parents, Burroughs said he urges them to not allow their underage children to head to Port Aransas without adult supervision.

“Even good kids tend to get caught up with making poor choices,” he said.