Austin Police Arrest Three Juveniles Linked to Multiple Shootings

Austin police apprehended three juveniles believed to be involved in 12 shooting incidents across the city. These shootings resulted in injuries to four individuals and damage to two fire stations, leading to a shelter-in-place order in South Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis announced that the suspects, aged 15 and 17, were taken into custody after the spree began late Saturday and continued into Sunday morning.

Chief Davis explained during a press conference, “We have two suspects in custody.” The Manor Police Department later reported the arrest of a third suspect, a 16-year-old male, who had fled a vehicle earlier the same day. Authorities confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Police found that the 17-year-old suspect had a warrant for firearm theft from the same store where the 15-year-old reportedly stole another gun. The juveniles allegedly stole multiple vehicles and fired at apartment complexes, homes, pedestrians, and two fire stations. Davis noted that one fire station was targeted twice, and a fire truck was hit while firefighters were nearby.

During the shootings, four individuals suffered gunshot wounds. One victim was critically injured but stable, while three others had non-life-threatening injuries. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz stated that emergency responders treated victims at four different shooting scenes.

Most shootings occurred in South Austin, with authorities describing the events as random. Residents were initially advised to shelter in place within a specific area as officers searched for the suspects. This order was lifted after the arrests, though police continued to search for the third assailant who fled during a vehicle stop in Manor.

The suspects used several stolen vehicles, including a black or dark blue Hyundai, a gold Hyundai sedan, a silver Mazda four-door, and a white Kia Optima. Davis advised residents not to leave keys or key fobs inside vehicles, stating, “What we are seeing are these cars are being stolen.” The investigation began with reports of a stolen vehicle and firearm and expanded as more shootings were reported.

Chief Davis described the investigation as “complex” due to multiple scenes, stolen vehicles, and random shootings across Austin. Officers attended to shootings involving apartment buildings and homes, ensuring residents were unharmed.

Surveillance video captured one incident in front of a store where suspects fired from a passing vehicle, striking two people. Additionally, a man walking his dog was shot in the back on Sunday morning.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson commended local and regional law enforcement agencies for their coordinated efforts, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Manor Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety. Watson noted, “This was a rapidly evolving event involving multiple incidents in multiple locations.”

Chief Davis advocated for license plate reader technology to help investigators connect shootings and stolen vehicle reports more efficiently. She stated, “We need to take seriously the fact that we’ve got two juveniles, 15 and 17, running around with guns creating this havoc.”