Samuel Boardman Charged With First-Degree Murder After Denise Tijerina's Death

Samuel Boardman, 39, was charged with first-degree murder after Denise Tijerina, 45, died from injuries sustained in a shooting at a South Austin residence. The incident began shortly after midnight on Jan. 26 when Austin Police Department officers responded to reports of a woman shot inside a home in the 5900 block of Wagon Bend, near East Stassney Lane.

Officers found Denise Tijerina in the kitchen with an apparent gunshot wound and transported her to a local hospital in critical condition. Investigators located and detained Samuel Boardman walking away from the scene. Preliminary findings showed Boardman was inside the home with Tijerina when she was allegedly shot and then fled on foot. Boardman was initially arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and released from jail the next day on a $5,000 bond tied to those charges.

Tijerina was pronounced deceased on Jan. 28. After her death, investigators obtained a first-degree murder warrant for Boardman and re-arrested him in connection with her death. The case is logged under case number 26-0260020 as it moves into homicide review and potential prosecution.

For neighbors and those who follow local true crime developments, the sequence of an initial aggravated assault arrest, a quick bond release, and a subsequent murder charge underscores how rapidly a criminal case can evolve when victims succumb to injuries. The public safety concern is immediate for residents of southeast Austin neighborhoods near Stassney Lane, where a domestic scene escalated to fatal violence in under 48 hours.

Practical next steps for community members include preserving any relevant information and passing tips to investigators. Austin Police Department requests information through its tip line at 512-974-TIPS and encourages anonymous reports to Capital Area Crime Stoppers by phone at 512-472-8477 or by submitting tips online through Austin Crime Stoppers. The Austin Police Public Information Office can be reached at 512-974-5017 for media or community inquiries.

The investigation will proceed through homicide detectives and the district attorney’s office as prosecutors determine formal charges and prepare for court proceedings. For neighbors, friends, and family, this case is a reminder to take signs of escalating domestic conflict seriously and to use available reporting channels when someone’s safety appears at risk.

What comes next is legal scrutiny and community follow-through: prosecutors will evaluate evidence tied to the first-degree murder warrant, and law enforcement will continue to gather facts in case 26-0260020. Readers should expect updates as court dates are set and as investigators release more details.