Police recover gun, other evidence in UNT student murder case

Denton police now say the man charged with the murder of a UNT student will be brought back to North Texas within the next two weeks instead of this week.

Eric Johnson is charged with the New Year’s morning death of Sara Mutschlechner.

She and her friends were leaving a party when police say Johnson pulled up alongside her in an SUV. There was a confrontation and police said Johnson fired shots at Mutschlechner’s car. She was hit in the head.

Johnson is now cooperating with the investigation. Police said he admitted his responsibility in the shooting and during an interview with investigators. He also expressed his sympathy to the victim’s family and her sorority sisters.

Police believe they have recovered the murder weapon, but have not said where. They are still waiting on forensic analysis for confirmation.

Officers also seized gunshot residue, DNA, spent shell casings and a water bottle from Johnson’s vehicle, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Johnson, a Marine corporal, was arrested at an air station in Yuma, Ariz. He has since been “administratively separated from the Marine Corps under other than honorable conditions.”