Suspect Arrested In Murder Of North Texas ZTA Who Was Shot While Designated Driving On NYE
A suspect has been arrested in the murder of Sara Mutschlechner, 20, who was shot in the head while sober driving her friends home from a New Year’s Eve celebration in Denton, Texas.
The suspect has been identified as Cpl. Eric Jamal Johnson, a marine stationed in Arizona.
Johnson was arrested at 6:30 a.m. at North Gate of the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, according to a statement released by the Marine Corps.
The police added that they are still in early stages of the investigation.
Mutschlechner was the designated driver for her friends on their way home from a New Year’s Eve party, when an SUV full of men pulled up next to them. Words were exchanged, friendly at first, until one of the men in the SUV made inappropriate comments about the women in the car. Things escalated from there.
The SUV fired two or three rounds at the car. Mutschlechner was struck in the head and crashed the vehicle into an electrical pole. She was found by authorities lying on the ground outside of her car at around 2 a.m. She was rushed to the hospital on life support, where she died the evening of January 1.
Mutschlechner was a junior at the University of North Texas and a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, whose national organization released the following statement on Facebook:
Our thoughts are with the sisters, family and friends of Gamma Phi Chapter (University of North Texas) member Sara…
Posted by Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity on Friday, January 1, 2016
The ZTA chapter of UNT has come together during the difficult time. They held a prayer vigil in Sara’s honor, and are sharing their fondest memories of their beloved sister with the hashtag #SaraStrong
Beautiful candlelit service for a beautiful ZTA Lady #SaraStrong 🌵 pic.twitter.com/vZkAnl0ZOJ
— UNT Compliments (@UNTCompliments) January 3, 2016
Sara Mutschlechner's life was honored at UNT tonight. @unt_zta made her a "Zeta Lady"-well deserved. #ZLAM pic.twitter.com/gVqxYvZisl
— Chelsea Kretz (@ChelseaKretz13) January 3, 2016
thank you for teaching me how to be a part of something bigger than myself.
@saradoodle_
#SaraStrong pic.twitter.com/FcKvo9SwTo
— Nicole Wan (@_nicolewan) January 3, 2016
Rest easy, @saradoodle_. pic.twitter.com/K6QMRQWOe0
— Chandler. (@itschandlaa) January 2, 2016
UNT also illuminated their iconic tower green in Sara’s honor.
The tower has been lit in honor of Sara Mutschlechner, a daughter, friend, and sister of @unt_zta. #SaraStrong pic.twitter.com/tFsWTGxCpr
— Talons of UNT (@Talons23) January 3, 2016
The sisters created a fundraiser and a gofundme page for her family, which you can visit through the tweet below:
The members of @unt_zta have created a fundraiser for Saras family. Here's the link https://t.co/b8LUGb0CTA #SaraStrong #ZLAM #thankyou
— ZTA Denton Alumnae (@ZTADentonAlumn) January 3, 2016
Today we are hosting a fundraiser at La Milpa benefiting Sara and her family. Come out from 10-10! #SaraStrong pic.twitter.com/bc6qL5m7W2
— North Texas ZTA (@unt_zta) January 3, 2016
Thoughts and prayers to Sara’s family, her sorority sisters, and the entire UNT community..
h/t ABC News
I just don’t understand killing unarmed innocent people. So fucked up.
10 years ago at 3:24 pmI hate that things like this happen. My prayers go out to her family.
10 years ago at 3:25 pmI’m disappointed that ZTA chose to call her death an “accident”. Whoever the shooter was made a conscious decision to fire the weapon at the vehicle Sara was killed in. It’s time that fact is made clear, especially by the deceased’s own organization.
10 years ago at 3:30 pmPeople deal with death in different ways. I agree that this was no accident, but looking at pictures of this lively girl who had so much ahead of her and then associating her passing with such a despicable act as this….I imagine that’s just too much to bear.
10 years ago at 3:40 pmWell, I don’t think Ms Mutschlechner would enjoy it if anything other than the truth were told. And I don’t think lying is a good way to honor the dead.
10 years ago at 3:46 pmTihs is lyke the worst thing 2 happen to teh college community since clampson snuck in the national championship by barely beating retarted youth league teams
10 years ago at 5:39 pmGTFO
10 years ago at 6:07 pmNot the time, and place man.
10 years ago at 6:58 pmwhy haven’t you been blackballed yet?
10 years ago at 7:01 pmI hope they get the rest of the guys in the car. Fuck ’em.
10 years ago at 3:35 pmCpl. Eric Jamal Johnson’s life doesnt matter fuck that disgrace piece of shit
10 years ago at 4:41 pmTwo words: Military Tribunal. I hope he gets the same accommodations as terrorists.
10 years ago at 5:16 pmFuck the marines
10 years ago at 4:03 pmRemove all guns
10 years ago at 4:09 pmI know you’re being sarcastic, but fuck you. Title 10 United States Code, Section 311.
10 years ago at 4:24 pmTime and place dude. Time and place.
10 years ago at 4:41 pmWhat is your fucking problem, man? There is a time to troll and a time to shut your mouth. Fuck you, man. No respect.
10 years ago at 9:10 amIt’s sad enough when someone dies from our brotherhoods and sisterhoods known as Greek life, but the fact that the shooter was a Marine is fucking sad. I’ll be the first to defend anyone who gives their life for this great nation, but when an armed forces member takes the life of one of our own, it shakes my trust even in those great men and women. Prayers to the families and make sure to donate to the gofundme.
10 years ago at 4:05 pm#greeklivesmatter
10 years ago at 7:27 pm…and I can already hear it from Salon/Slate/Gawker:
These racist white girls taunted a bunch of innocent black men! Because of their impoverished upbringing – which is the fault of whites – they had no choice but to pump three rounds into her car, because white privilege, or something.
I eagerly wait a statement from the #BLM crowd shrieking for justice. Fuck it, now I’m just furious.
10 years ago at 8:17 pmOne down, five to go
10 years ago at 8:20 pmThis is why Texas has the express lane to execution. Use it
10 years ago at 2:57 amI agree. Why should our tax dollars pay for this scumbag’s food and plumbing. He made a decision to take a life. He can go to hell. Prayers for Sara’s family.
10 years ago at 9:07 am