Fort Worth family raising money to pay funeral costs for chef killed in Austin hit-and-run

Jaime Moore-Carrillo
·2 min read
4

A Fort Worth family has fundraised almost $20,000 to cover the funeral expenses of Cody Shelton, an aspiring chef killed in a hit-and-run crash in Austin on March 12.

A vehicle struck Shelton in the early hours of the morning as he walked through Austin’s downtown. The 26-year-old Fort Worth native had moved to the state capital to kickstart his cooking career.

“Unfortunately, our family was not expecting such a tragedy and could use help to bring Cody home to Fort Worth and to give him a proper burial,” Angel Scallion, Shelton’s aunt, wrote in the GoFundMe’s description. “Cody had so much life to live and it was cut short due to someone’s negligence. He was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.”

Shelton graduated from Castleberry High School in 2016. He traded his pencils and football pads for an apron when he enrolled in the Austin’s Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, according to his social media posts.

Over the following eight years, Shelton honed his skills in kitchens across the city. He worked the grills at Whataburger and Dairy Queen. He hustled as a line cook in pizzerias and a Japanese restaurant.

He ventured into private cheffing in 2020. He boasted a range of skills and services, from intricate desserts to customized dinners. By last February, he’d landed a gig at well-regarded Austin restaurant Arlo Grey. “Truly honored to be able to work with such talented chefs,” he wrote in a Feb. 16 Instagram post. “I love the team I was blessed with.”

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Shelton’s upwards climb was cut short less than a month later.

Austin police pronounced him dead at the site of the crash; another injured pedestrian was rushed to a hospital.

Officials arrested 23-year-old Tyrone Thompson in connection with the crash the following day. Thompson faces several charges, according to police records, including resisting arrest, search or transport, unlawful carrying of a weapon, an accident involving death and driving while intoxicated.

Shelton’s family has received almost $18,000 in donations as of 4:30 p.m. Monday.