Three people have died after a gunman opened fire at a Target parking lot in Austin on Monday afternoon – and the suspect was detained after crashing a hijacked vehicle.
The unnamed attacker, who was described as white and wearing a Hawaiian shirt, fired at shoppers at the store on Research Boulevard in Texas shortly after 2pm, with police saying they received an initial report about a shooting at 2.15pm.
When Austin police then arrived at the scene, they found three people shot in the parking lot. Medics pronounced two of the victims dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to their injuries en route to a local hospital.
One other victim suffered unrelated injuries and was treated at the scene, authorities said.
The suspect, identified only as a 32-year-old white male with a known mental health issue and prior criminal history, fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.
He promptly crashed the car, at which point he hijacked another vehicle from a local Volkswagen dealership, Police Chief Lisa Davis said at an evening news conference.
But officers were quickly able to track down the suspect about 18 miles south of the shooting.
Police then tazed him and took him into custody, though the suspect has not yet been charged and a motive remains unclear.
Breaking:Death toll rises to three
Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that three people died in the shooting.
All three were shot at the scene in the Target parking lot. Their names and ages were not disclosed.
Davis gave an update during a press briefing just before 5pm ET.
Jiffy Lube employees forced to hunker down
Employees at a Jiffy Lube that shares a parking lot with the North Austin Target hunkered down and locked the mechanic’s doors when they became aware of the shooting outside.
‘I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before,’ he recounted.
Target releases statement
The Target corporation has released a statement about the shooting.
‘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,’ a spokesperson for the company said.
‘We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene.
‘In the days ahead, we will continue partnering with law enforcement and will be providing support resources, including grief counseling, to our team.’
Suspect’s crashed vehicle is pictured
Photos shared online appear to show the vehicle the suspect stole from the Target parking lot.
A Toyota truck was seen on top of another vehicle in a South Austin parking lot.
The unidentified suspect allegedly hijacked the vehicle, believed to have belonged to one of his victims, and fled the scene.
He then crashed the vehicle in an office complex parking lot at MoPac & Anderson Lane, where he promptly stole another vehicle.
Campaign group urges lawmakers to ‘step up and prioritize gun safety’ in the wake of the shooting
The Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action, a group which advocates for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence, has spoken out in the wake of the shooting.
Nadia Barbot, a volunteer with the group, told the Daily Mail: ‘A trip to Target shouldn’t end in violence and devastation.
‘Gun violence in our state makes it so we all live with the fear of being shot — whether we’re sending our kids to school or running our afternoon errands.
‘We deserve to feel safe in our communities, and it’s far past time our lawmakers step up to prioritize gun safety.’
Police have not confirmed whether a child was among the victims
Austin Police Department initially told local media that a child was involved in the shooting.
However, officials did not confirm this during the press conference on Monday afternoon. They did not disclose the ages of any of the victims.
Police give more details after Austin shooting
Austin Mayor slams shooting as ‘sickening, cowardly act of gun violence’
Concerned onlookers watch scene outside Target
Gunman hijacked TWO cars and led police on an 18-mile chase through the heart of Austin
The suspect hijacked two cars and led police on a car chase through the heart of Austin, Chief Lisa Davis said.
Davis told reporters he carjacked the first vehicle in the parking lot of a Target store on Research Boulevard in the north of the city before opening fire at the scene.
One of the victims is believed to be the owner of the car.
After gunning down three people, the suspect fled in the car before abandoning it and stealing a second vehicle from a Volkswagen dealership.
Police eventually snared him at the other side of the city on La Costa Drive – 18 miles south of where the shooting happened.
What we know about the suspect
The unidentified 32 year old suspect in Monday’s shooting was known to police and had a known mental health issue.
Police say the suspect is white and has a prior criminal history. He was seen wearing a Hawaiian or floral shirt.
It remains unclear what prompted the man to open fire outside of the Target at 2.15pm, killing three people.
He then fled the scene in a vehicle, which he soon wrecked, before he hijacked a Volkswagen.
The suspect is now in custody, though the charges against him are still pending.
Suspect tasered and taken into custody
The unidentified 32-year-old suspect was tasered and taken into custody after he fled the scene of the Target.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference Monday night that the suspet fled in a vehicle, wrecked the car and then stole a second vehicle from a volkswagen dealership in the 2400 block of La Costa.
Officers were then able to catch up with the suspect, where he was tased and taken into custody.
Vehicles near crime scene cannot be moved
Police said: ‘Due to the active crime scene at the Target on Research Boulevard, vehicles in the parking lot cannot be released until the initial investigation is complete.
‘Please arrange alternate transportation home. We will share an update as soon as it is safe to retrieve your vehicle.’
Gunman is alive and in custody
The unnamed gunman who opened fire and killed two at the Target is alive.
He was arrested by police shortly after the mass shooting situation.
Police are expected to give an update on the situation in a matter of minutes.
Suspect’s motive is currently unknown
Police have not yet disclosed the suspected motive of the gunman, who has been in custody for almost an hour. He also has not yet been named.
Gunman tried to flee in stolen car, police say
Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect carjacked a vehicle in the Target parking lot and fled moments after the shooting, according to KVUE.
Police quickly tracked him down and detained him. It’s unclear how far he got before he was snared.
Briefing from authorities will start imminently
Police said: ‘Media staging area is in front of the Advance Auto Parts. Briefing time 3:45 p.m.’
Suspect is a white man, police say
Austin Police Department gave a physical description of the suspect.
They said he is a white man, wearing khaki shorts.
He has been detained, according to authorities.
Emergency services are seen outside Target
Photos from the scene showed a police presence following the shooting situation.
Two people were killed and multiple others were injured.
Multiple roads closed as shooter situation is ongoing
Multiple roads have been closed in the vicinity of the Target, where the active shooter started raining bullets on Monday afternoon.
‘Road closures – 8000 block of MoPac SB Frontage shut down between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane. Main lanes of MoPac NB and SB remain open. Avoid the area,’ police said.
Austin Police say gunman was wearing Hawaiian shirt
Police in Austin warned the public to stay away during the active shooter situation.
They gave a description of the man who they say started shooting at the Target.
He is a white man wearing a Hawaiian or floral shirt, cops said.
Two people have died in the Target parking lot shooting in Austin, Texas
Austin Police Department told KVUE that three to five people were shot, including one child.
The department added that two of the victims have been confirmed dead.
Further details have not been released pending notification of their families.
