Officials say the investigation remains open while the medical examiner determines cause and manner of death.
AUSTIN, TX — Austin police said Wednesday the weekend death of Texas A&M University student Brianna Aguilera is not being investigated as a homicide, citing no signs of suspicious circumstances after the 19-year-old was found unresponsive outside a West Campus high-rise shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday.
Authorities emphasized the case remains open as detectives gather statements and wait for results from the Travis County Medical Examiner. Aguilera, a Laredo native and sophomore at Texas A&M, had traveled to Austin for events surrounding the University of Texas–Texas A&M football game. The police position — that evidence so far does not indicate criminal activity — has drawn pushback from her family, who question the sequence of events leading to her death and the actions of people who were with her that night. The official cause and manner of death have not been released, a process that can take weeks while toxicology tests are completed.
Officers responded to 2101 Rio Grande St., known as the 21 Rio Apartments, at 12:47 a.m. Saturday after a report of an unresponsive person on the sidewalk. Aguilera was pronounced dead at 12:57 a.m. Police said preliminary information placed her at a tailgate before the rivalry game and later at a gathering at the West Campus building. In a written statement, the department said, “At this time, the incident is not being investigated as a homicide, and there are no indications of suspicious circumstances.” Investigators have not publicly detailed how Aguilera came to be outside the building or how far she fell. City officials said detectives are reviewing timelines from witnesses and nearby residents while evidence technicians process materials gathered at the scene and from the apartment complex.
Family members have voiced sharp disagreement with the police assessment and have demanded a deeper review. Stephanie Rodriguez, Aguilera’s mother, said her daughter “loved life” and had plans that did not align with the idea of suicide or a deliberate fall. Relatives said they were told Aguilera fell from a high floor and that some personal items were not immediately recovered. They also criticized the initial handling of the apartment where friends had gathered, saying it should have been searched sooner. Police have not addressed those specific claims in detail but said the investigation includes follow-up interviews and collection of digital communications that could clarify the movements of Aguilera and others in the hours before she was found. Officials have not released any toxicology findings, and they have not identified any suspects or persons of interest.
Aguilera’s death comes as Austin’s West Campus — dense with student housing near the University of Texas — continues to draw large crowds on weekends and on major game days. The 21 Rio tower, a 17-story complex with street-level retail, sits amid well-lit corridors and active nightlife that can complicate late-night timelines for investigators. In recent years, police have urged students in the area to travel in groups and to use rideshares or campus shuttles after midnight, and property managers at high-rises commonly restrict rooftop and balcony access during large events. Records show first responders are frequently called to the district for alcohol-related medical emergencies, noise complaints and welfare checks, factors that can introduce many potential witnesses — and conflicting accounts — in a single case. None of those background conditions, however, change the central question authorities are working to answer: how Aguilera came to be fatally injured outside the building.
Procedurally, the case remains classified as a death investigation. Detectives will forward their findings to the medical examiner, whose ruling on cause and manner — accident, suicide, natural, homicide or undetermined — will guide any next steps. Police said interviews with friends and partygoers are ongoing this week, along with retrieval of building access logs and relevant camera footage. The department has not announced any briefings or released a full narrative report. If the medical examiner’s office identifies evidence of criminal involvement, police said the classification would change and additional investigative units would be assigned. No criminal charges have been filed as of Wednesday, and no court hearings are scheduled in connection with the case. Officials did not provide a timeline for lab results, which can take several weeks.
Outside the apartment tower, flowers and candles appeared along the sidewalk as classmates and friends shared memories of Aguilera’s optimism and drive. “She was focused and kind,” said a family friend who traveled to Austin to support the family. A student who lives nearby described waking to emergency lights and officers canvassing the block for witnesses. Several residents said they provided statements and were asked to save any photos or messages from Friday night. At Texas A&M, acquaintances recalled Aguilera’s plans to pursue a career in law and noted she had turned 19 earlier this year. A fundraising page started by relatives drew steady support, reflecting the outpouring of grief in Laredo and among Aggies who did not know her personally but were moved by the news.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police maintained there is no evidence of foul play and said the inquiry is focused on reconstructing Aguilera’s final hours while awaiting the medical examiner’s ruling. The next formal update is expected when officials release cause and manner of death in the coming weeks, or sooner if new facts emerge that change the status of the case.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.