This is a Chicago paper. Austin is a well-known neighborhood in Chicago.
The point is, this is yet another example of how today's so-called "reporters" and so-called "editors" know nothing of proper grammar, only what's in the AP "Style" book.
"Austin" is a noun. "Death" is a noun. Nouns don't modify nouns, adjectives do. I learned this in about the 4th or 5th grade, but evidently, today's reporters and editors never did. Our publick edjumuhkashun system at work.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!