Man had 'no reaction' after stomping patron to death inside public library in unprovoked attack: Police

Inset: Daniel Vasquez (Austin Police Department). Background: The Austin Central Library, where Vasquez allegedly beat a man to death earlier this year (Google Maps).

A 31-year-old Texas man is accused of killing a 62-year-old man by beating and then stomping on his head during an attack at Austin's Central Library, an assault that left the victim with severe brain injuries before he died three months later.

Police arrested Daniel Vasquez last week and charged him with first-degree felony murder in the slaying of Alonzo Mabry, court records show.

Vasquez had initially been facing one count of aggravated assault over the allegedly unprovoked attack, but authorities upgraded that charge after Mabry died from his injuries in June.

Officers with the Austin Police Department responded to the Austin Central Library in the 700 block of West Cesar Chavez Street on March 11 for a 911 call about a man allegedly "stomping" on the head of another person, local NBC affiliate KXAN reported.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis was at the library on unrelated business at the time and also called 911 before detaining the suspect, later identified as Vasquez, prior to officers arriving, local ABC affiliate KVUE reported.

Investigators obtained surveillance footage that allegedly showed Vasquez and Mabry sitting at neighboring computer stations before the attack, which police said was entirely unprovoked.

Vasquez allegedly struck the still-seated Mabry in the head with his elbow, rendering him unconscious and sprawled out on the floor. The younger man then allegedly stomped on Mabry's head three or four times.

A witness told investigators that Vasquez remained stoic throughout the attack, saying he "had no reaction after the assault," KVUE reported, citing the affidavit. Immediately afterward, Vasquez reportedly returned to the same computer and continued watching videos next to the unconscious Mabry.

Another witness reportedly told investigators they believed the assailant was trying to kill Mabry.

Medics transported Mabry to Dell Seton Medical Center in critical condition. Doctors reportedly told police he suffered severe brain injuries, including multiple hemorrhages. He later entered hospice care and died on June 12.

A medical examiner determined Mabry's cause of death to be "complications of blunt-force head trauma" and classified it as a homicide. Police then obtained the murder warrant, and Vasquez was booked into the Travis County Jail on Oct. 15.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that Vasquez has a history of violence and mental health struggles. He was reportedly charged after allegedly punching a bus driver in February 2024 and spitting on a police officer. He was arrested again about seven months later for allegedly assaulting two people on a bus.

Vasquez is being held on $300,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 22.