Three Feared Dead in Shooting at North Austin Target Store; Suspect in Custody
A shooting incident at a Target store in North Austin, Texas, has left at least three people feared dead and several others injured, according to the Associated Press. The Austin Police Department confirmed on Monday that the suspect has been detained and is presently in custody.
Initial reports from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) indicated that there were at least four victims in the shooting. However, authorities have not released any further details regarding the identities or conditions of the victims. The exact circumstances leading to the incident are yet to be ascertained.
Addressing the media after the attack, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis provided preliminary information about the investigation. She stated that following the shooting, the suspect stole a vehicle and tried to escape, but later crashed it. He then stole a second car before being apprehended in South Austin.
According to Chief Davis, responding officers discovered three gunshot victims in the Target store’s parking lot. Two of them were confirmed dead at the scene. “This is a very sad day for Austin. It’s a very sad day for us all, and my condolences go out to the families,” she said. No further details about the victims were shared.
Police have identified the suspect as a 32-year-old white male with a reported history of mental health issues. At the time of the incident, he was seen wearing khaki shorts and a floral shirt. He has been taken into custody, and investigations are underway.
The shooting took place at the Target outlet located at 8601 Research Boulevard, part of a busy shopping complex housing restaurants, retail stores, and auto repair shops, and surrounded by residential areas. Police have advised people who had parked their vehicles at the site to arrange alternative transport, as the parking area remains closed.
Shortly before 3 pm ET, authorities issued a social media advisory asking the public to avoid the area. The 8000 block of MoPac’s southbound frontage road — between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane — was temporarily closed, although the main northbound and southbound lanes of MoPac remained open. The scene was declared active until at least 3:30 pm.
The investigation is ongoing as law enforcement officials work to establish the motive for the attack and collect evidence from the location.
