Antonio Cleveland Jr., 18, was remembered as an athlete, friend and protector as the search for his killer continued.
AUSTIN, Texas — The mother of an 18-year-old killed outside a North Austin sports bar is urging witnesses to come forward as police search for an unidentified suspect more than two weeks after the shooting.
Antonio Cleveland Jr. was shot late July 4 outside Otro Pedo Sports Bar in the 900 block of East Braker Lane. Austin police said no suspect had been identified and the events leading to the shooting remained unclear. Cleveland’s mother, Sharamie Robinson, said her family cannot fully grieve while the case remains unsolved.
Police officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 11:48 p.m. Callers told authorities that two people had been shot. Officers found Cleveland on a sidewalk outside the business and began providing medical aid, according to the Austin Police Department.
Cleveland and another man were taken to a hospital. Police said the second victim was treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Cleveland was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:29 a.m.
Robinson said she last saw her son the day before the shooting. Cleveland attended a family event at a park on July 4 before going elsewhere later that night. Robinson said she then received the call that every parent fears.
“They told me that he had gone into cardiac arrest,” Robinson said. “After that, that was it. I didn’t get to tell my baby goodbye. I didn’t get to talk to him.”
Cleveland graduated from Hendrickson High School in 2025, his mother said. He participated in ROTC, wrestling and football. Robinson described him as someone who cared for the people around him and took pride in being active at school.
“He was an athlete, he was a protector, he was a friend,” Robinson said.
Police said a preliminary investigation indicated Cleveland and the other man were shot in the sports bar parking lot by a person who fled the area. Investigators have not released a description of the suspect or said whether Cleveland and the other victim knew the shooter.
Robinson said she had heard informal accounts suggesting her son was not involved in the dispute, but she acknowledged that she did not know exactly what happened. Police have not announced a motive or confirmed the circumstances that led to the gunfire.
Her public appeal has focused on people who may have been at the business or nearby when the shooting occurred. Robinson said witnesses should consider how they would feel if their own family were waiting for answers after a loved one was killed.
“It’s got to start somewhere, somebody’s got to say something,” Robinson said. “Let me actually lay my baby to rest, because right now my baby’s never going to rest until they’re caught.”
Robinson has also called for an end to gun violence, saying parents and families should not repeatedly face the loss of loved ones. She urged adults to speak with young people about violence and to reject the idea that shootings shared on social media should be treated as normal.
Police are seeking photographs, video or other evidence from anyone who was in the area. Information may be submitted directly to Austin police or anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers. Police said a reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.
No arrest had been announced as of Thursday. The Austin Police Department listed Cleveland’s death as the city’s 32nd homicide of 2026, and homicide detectives continued investigating the shooting.
Author note: Last updated July 23, 2026.