via ForOurEsmeB
The first homicide in Austin this year took place around 3 a.m. on New Year's Day, when a 29-year-old woman, Esme Barrera, was murdered upon her return home that night. The attack has been particularly terrifying to Austin residents due to its random nature, and the fact that two other non-fatal attacks happened nearby that same morning—the Austin Police Department is now being scrutinized, with many believing they could have prevented Barrera's murder since an attack 30 minutes earlier outside of her home had been reported.
According to the Statesman, "Barrera was killed after someone broke into her home in the 3100 block of King Street... She had celebrated New Year's Eve at the nearby 29th Street Ballroom and walked home alone but was found badly injured inside the house by a friend about 2:45 a.m. She was later pronounced dead by paramedics."
Barrera was a well known figure in the community in Austin, and in the music scene worldwide. As Austinist noted, she was "an educator whose work intersected with her passion. Her day job had her teaching special education at Casis Elementary, and for fun she was a large part of Girls Rock Camp in Austin, where she elected to spend her free time instructing a new generation of forward-thinking females in the musical arts."
There are a lot of benefits for Esme's family happening down in Austin, but some New Yorkers have put one (so far) together, too. Permanent Wave, a feminist arts and activist group, is throwing a benefit for Esme on Thursday, January 12th, at 89 Varet Street in Brooklyn. All proceeds will go to Barrera's family, to help pay for services.
