Three juveniles are in police custody following a series of weekend shootings across Austin, Texas, that left four people injured, including one in critical condition. The localized violence highlights ongoing public safety concerns regarding gun violence in the state, which recorded roughly 4,400 gun-related deaths in recent state tracking metrics.
The crime spree spanned from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning as the suspects moved around the city in at least four stolen vehicles. The active shooter situation prompted city officials to issue a strict shelter-in-place order for a large section of South Austin on Sunday. Police lifted the safety protocol after apprehending the first two suspects.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed the suspects fired indiscriminately at pedestrians, apartment complexes, and two separate Austin Fire Department stations. Two boys, ages 15 and 17, were detained after attempting to flee on foot from a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop.
The third juvenile suspect initially escaped the traffic stop scene. Law enforcement captured him on Sunday night at a gas station in Manor, located about 15 miles northeast of Austin, bringing an end to the random nature of the attacks.
Investigators linked the 15-year-old suspect to the primary firearm used during the spree, which he had previously stolen. The 17-year-old suspect was already wanted by law enforcement in connection with a separate firearm theft prior to this weekend. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson characterized the series of shootings as entirely unprovoked, noting that investigators have not yet identified a specific motive for the violence.