Visitation held for UNT student shot in the head

Wednesday, people in San Marcos showed their support for the family of a University or North Texas student who was shot in the head on New Year's Day.

The visitation service for 20-year old Sara Mutschlechner took place in San Marcos Wednesday evening.

From 4 to 7 there was a constant flow of people coming in and out of the Pennington funeral home to share their condolences with Sara's parents.

"This young lady is the niece of one of our retired lieutenants, Jack Mutschlechner. She's part of our community and not only do we want to support our previous firefighters, part of our family, but we want to support his extended family as well," said San Marcos Fire Chief Les Stephens.

Mutschlechner was the designated driver for her friends at University of North Texas on New Year's Eve. Around 2 a.m. she was in Denton on her way home from a party when a black SUV pulled alongside her car.

Police said words were exchanged between the people in the two vehicles and then a man in the SUV opened fire. Mutschlechner was shot in the head and taken to Denton Regional Medical Center where she was put on life support. She did not recover.

"I think an event like this is shocking no matter when or where it occurs. It's senseless and you hate to see anyone going through this and seeing family hurting like this, and especially something around the holidays like this and someone so young, makes it all the more tragic," Stephens said.

Mutschlechner grew up in Martindale and attended San Marcos High School.
She played percussion for the Rattlers before moving to Denton to go to college.

"It was always just a really great time together, to just hang out and play with Sara, cause she was just a really awesome person, really fun to talk to, she always cracked jokes with her spunkiness. She was just a really unique person and I'm really glad to have met her," said Roberto Abont who played in the high school band with Sara.

U.S. Marshals have arrested one man for the shooting. Eric Jamal Johnson was taken into custody Tuesday in Yuma, Arizona.
Names of the other men involved have not been released.

"If they would at least see Sara's family's faces and just honestly apologize to them, I'm pretty sure that would make their day," said Abont.

Whether or not that day ever comes, those in San Marcos Wednesday said they want the Mutschlechner's to know they are never alone.

"They're in our thoughts and prayers. We support them and the community supports them and embraces them here while they go through this very difficult time," said Stephens.

A memorial service will be held for Sara on Thursday at University Church of Christ in San Marcos at 2 p.m.