3 killed, multiple injured after shooting at Target in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — Three people were killed and several others injured, including a child, after a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a Target store in North Austin on Monday afternoon.
The suspect, a 32-year-old white male wearing a Hawaiian-style shirt, is now in police custody.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the shooting occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. in the Target parking lot located on Research Boulevard.
Witnesses reported the suspect firing multiple rounds at shoppers before carjacking a vehicle at the scene. One of the victims is believed to have been the owner of that vehicle.
After fleeing the scene, the suspect crashed the stolen car and proceeded to hijack a second vehicle from a Volkswagen dealership.
He then led officers on a pursuit through Austin, ultimately being located and apprehended on La Costa Drive, approximately 18 miles south of the shooting site.
APD Chief Lisa Davis confirmed the suspect was subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody without further incident.
Chief Davis stated that all three fatalities occurred at the Target parking lot.
In total, four individuals were injured, including a child, and three victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
Authorities say the suspect has a criminal history in Texas and is known to have a mental health history.
A motive for the attack remains under investigation.
The incident prompted extensive road closures in the area, including the 8000 block of the MoPac southbound frontage between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane.
While main lanes of MoPac remained open, police urged the public to avoid the area during the active investigation.
Due to the ongoing crime scene, APD advised that vehicles parked at the Target will remain secured until investigators have completed their initial work.
Officials are expected to release further updates as the investigation progresses.
