Austin authorities took two juveniles into custody Sunday following a violent rampage that spanned multiple neighborhoods and left four people injured. The suspects, ages 15 and 17, allegedly fired shots at apartment complexes, homes, pedestrians and two fire stations across the city. The incidents began late Saturday evening and continued into Sunday morning, prompting emergency shelter-in-place orders for residents in South Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed both suspects were arrested after an intensive search operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The 17-year-old suspect already had an outstanding warrant related to firearm theft from the same store where the 15-year-old allegedly stole another weapon. Investigators connected the dots between stolen vehicles and shooting reports as the spree unfolded. Officers responded to scenes scattered throughout Austin, with most incidents concentrated in the southern part of the city. Emergency responders treated victims at four separate locations, working through what officials described as a rapidly evolving situation.
Four victims wounded in multiple shooting locations
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz reported that emergency medical teams treated four gunshot victims during the incidents. One person sustained critical injuries but was stabilized and remained in stable condition at a local hospital. Three other victims suffered non-life-threatening wounds and received medical attention. The shootings appeared random in nature, with no specific pattern connecting the victims. A man walking his dog Sunday morning was shot in the back in one of the incidents. Surveillance footage captured one shooting outside a store where two people were struck after suspects opened fire from a passing vehicle.
Firefighters narrowly escaped injury when one fire station was targeted twice during the spree. A fire truck was struck by gunfire while crew members were nearby, though no firefighters sustained injuries. The attacks on emergency service facilities added urgency to the manhunt as law enforcement coordinated responses across multiple crime scenes.
Suspects cycled through stolen vehicles during rampage
Investigators determined the suspects stole multiple vehicles throughout their criminal spree, making it challenging to track their movements. Police identified several stolen cars used during the incidents:
- A black or dark blue Hyundai sedan
- A gold Hyundai sedan
- A silver Mazda four-door vehicle
- A white Kia Optima
The investigation began when officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle from an apartment complex and a stolen firearm. As additional shooting reports came in from across the city, detectives connected the incidents and realized they were dealing with an active threat. Chief Davis emphasized the complexity of the investigation due to the number of crime scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings spread across multiple areas of Austin. She urged residents not to leave keys or key fobs inside vehicles, noting that easy access to unlocked cars contributed to the problem.
Emergency shelter order lifted after arrests
Authorities initially issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in an area bounded by South Slaughter Lane, East McKinney Falls Parkway, North Ben White Boulevard and West Escarpment Boulevard. The order remained in effect while officers conducted door-to-door searches to ensure residents had not been injured and to locate the suspects. Police went through neighborhoods checking on apartment buildings and homes, responding to shooting reports while simultaneously searching for the armed juveniles.
The shelter-in-place directive was lifted after both suspects were taken into custody. However, police indicated a possible third person fled from a vehicle stop in the Manor area, suggesting the investigation might continue. Officers from multiple agencies participated in the search, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Manor Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety.
Officials call for license plate reader technology
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the coordinated response from local and regional law enforcement agencies during the crisis. He described it as a rapidly evolving event involving multiple incidents in multiple locations that required seamless cooperation between departments. Chief Davis suggested license plate reader technology could have helped investigators more quickly connect the shootings and stolen vehicle reports. She stressed the seriousness of having two juveniles armed with guns creating havoc across the city.
The police chief highlighted concerns about youth access to firearms and vehicle theft trends. She noted that stolen cars were being used in criminal activities throughout the region. Davis emphasized that the community needed to take seriously the fact that teenagers were running around with guns creating dangerous situations. The investigation remained active Sunday evening as authorities processed evidence from multiple crime scenes and interviewed witnesses who observed the shootings or vehicle thefts.
