Austin Man Arrested for Murder After Victim Thrown from Car Hood

Arthur Robert Richter, 43, has been arrested for First Degree Murder following an incident on Monday, February 3, 2025, in which a man was thrown from the hood of a moving vehicle and later died.

Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a disturbance at 3:09 p.m. in the 700 block of Azie Morton Road. The complainant, identified as Arthur Richter, reported that an individual had displayed a firearm before leaving the area.

At 3:22 p.m., APD received multiple 911 calls reporting that a male had been flung from the hood of a car leaving the area. Officers arrived and found James Hough on the ground with apparent trauma. Hough was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 4:36 p.m.

Investigators determined that after calling police, Richter became involved in a separate altercation with Hough, assaulted him, and took his cell phone. Hough then climbed onto the hood of Richter’s vehicle in an attempt to retrieve his phone. Richter drove off at high speed, then abruptly braked, throwing Hough to the ground, causing fatal injuries. Richter then fled the scene.

On February 4, 2025, a First Degree Murder warrant was issued for Richter. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested him on February 5 in Temple, Texas.

Anyone with information should contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.