Austin police are investigating after a body was found early Thursday morning in Central East Austin. According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the deceased person was found sometime before 2:30 a.

APD said the victim was murdered and then set on fire as an attempt to cover up the murder AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department needs help identifying a victim killed in the first homicide of the year.

Originally, police said detectives were investigating the incident as a suspicious death and not a homicide. In an update Monday afternoon, police confirmed the case had become a murder investigation after the autopsy detailed “sharp force injuries” and trauma on the victim’s body.

An investigation is underway following a shooting at Lakeline Mall. According to the Austin Police Department, officers were called to the mall regarding a "shoot/stab hotshot" on Thursday afternoon.

Homicide detectives believe the incident was a homicide and the fire was started as an attempt to cover up the murder.