Friend speaks for manslaughter suspect

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Preston Sharpnack cried when he was told Matt Casey passed away, according to a friend.

“His face went white and he cried for a long time,” said Justin Parker, who said that he and Sharpnack were best friends.

“He was very upset.”

Prior to manslaughter charges being filed against Sharpnack, the two friends spoke about the incident and Sharpnack told Parker he acted in defense of himself and Renee Jones, the woman who was with him.

“Preston and Renee both told me that Casey had come at Renee violently,” Parker said.

According to a police affidavit, a confrontation occurred when Sharpnack and Jones asked the group of men Casey was with for spare change.

Police say witness testimony and surveillance camera footage warrant the manslaughter charge.

But Parker does not believe the whole story has been told.

“They were trying to get away and Casey and his group of friends followed. We all do send out regards to the Casey family. Preston does also and so does his family,” said Parker about the remorse Sharpnack is feeling.

“He said ‘man, I hit the guy one time. I didn’t mean to kill him,'" Parker explained.

The incident has renewed debate about having homeless shelters downtown, but Parker, who himself is homeless, does not believe the location would have made a difference in this case.

“Even if the ARCH and Salvation Army were not there, this would have happened,” Parker claimed, since Sharpnack was not intending to stay at a shelter and spent most of his time in the Barton Springs area.

Police released surveillance footage of Sharpnack and Jones leaving the downtown street, but Parker hopes more footage showing the entire incident will be found and released.

“Austin Police Department needs to dig deeper and find the video footage. Preston’s name does not need to go down in a bad way because he is a very good individual," Parker said.

On Friday, APD located Renee Jones in Round Rock. Authorities said she is only a witness at this time and they do not expect to file any charges against her.