On Monday afternoon, tragedy struck in Austin, Texas, when a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a Target store on Research Boulevard. The incident, which began just after 2:15 p.m., left three people dead and a community reeling.
Initial Response and Scene Description
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that officers responded within minutes of the first 911 calls. When they arrived, they found three victims in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, and the third was transported to a local hospital where they later died. A fourth individual was treated for non-related injuries.
Suspect Flees and Carjacks Multiple Vehicles
Police say the suspect, a 32-year-old man with a criminal record and documented mental health issues, fled the scene in a vehicle stolen from one of the victims. After crashing that car, he allegedly took another from a nearby dealership—a Volkswagen—before driving south.
Arrest in South Austin
The pursuit ended in South Austin when officers located the suspect. According to Chief Davis, the man exited the stolen vehicle and was confronted by police. After a brief standoff, he was subdued with a Taser and taken into custody without further injuries to bystanders.
Motive Still Unknown
Authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the shooting. Chief Davis said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together the sequence of events. “It’s a very sad day for Austin,” she stated. “Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones.”
Victim Identities Pending
The names of the victims have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin. Law enforcement officials have not confirmed reports that one of the victims may have been a child.
Target’s Statement
Target released a statement Monday evening expressing condolences to the victims’ families and gratitude to first responders. “We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin, and all those impacted by this tragedy,” the statement read. The company also confirmed that grief counseling will be offered to its employees.
Investigation Continues
While the suspect is now in custody, the investigation remains active. Austin police are urging anyone with information or video footage of the incident to contact them. Officials say it could be hours—or even days—before a full timeline and motive are confirmed.
A Community in Mourning
As evening fell, the parking lot where the shooting took place was still sealed off by police tape. Officers, detectives, and crime scene technicians worked under floodlights while shocked shoppers looked on from behind barricades. What had been a routine afternoon of back-to-school shopping quickly turned into a nightmare that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
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Where were any of the concealed carry citizens to stop this psychopath??? I know Austin is “blue”, but there has to be plenty of people there that don’t cower to the liberal commie anti-gun BS. How he managed to get away with several stolen cars is really beyond me. Obviously; not one person he encountered after his murdering spree was able to defend themselves against an armed assailant. That is super-horrific! – If the perp doesn’t get the death penalty, then Texas has become soft on crime and not the state it purports itself to be. Sad – very sad!
If someone comes at you and demands your car, give it. He’s already got his gun out, he knew he was gonna do this long before you did, he got the jump so he wins. THe cops will track him down soon enough. And as he’s driving away, the threat is gone; you shoot now and you go to jail, lose about $100k to lawyers to lose the case and lose your gun for life. Not worth losing your life over.
If you see someone in the parking lot waving a gun around, how do you know he’s not the good guy who just saved someone’s life? By all means, draw your weapon and seek cover, but you shouldn’t enter guns a blazing until you know what’s going on.
We as a country MUST do more to get the MANY mental health issue people off our streets! With SO many senseless murders that are being committed by mentally unstable people, we need to address the problem. We know that the insane asylums of years ago didn’t solve the problems, they just kept people locked up and drugged up! Remember One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?But, at least they were off the streets. I certainly don’t have any answers, but there has to be a system that can help cope with this crisis! Guns don’t kill people, people with mental health issue kill people! We need to feel safe when doing our daily routines! Our country has become an unsafe haven in many cities and towns!
I’ll bet the shooter is a deranged democrat.