Key Point Summary โ Shooter Killed 3
- Gunman opened fire at Austin Target parking lot, killing three
- Attack happened just before 3pm ET on Monday
- Suspect hijacked two cars, leading police on an 18-mile chase
- 32-year-old man known to police, with prior criminal history
- Tasered and arrested by Austin Police; motive still unclear
Gunfire Erupts in Broad Daylight
Austin shoppers dove for cover Monday afternoon when a man in a Hawaiian shirt opened fire in a Target parking lot, killing three and injuring a child. Police say the 32-year-old suspect struck just before 3pm ET on Research Boulevard, turning an ordinary day into chaos. Four people took bullets in total. Three died at the scene.
Witnesses described a scene of pure panic. Screams ripped through the summer heat as people sprinted toward the store entrance. Drivers slammed their accelerators, trying to escape. Within minutes, Austin Police officers swarmed the area โ but the gunman had already fled.
Violent Getaway Across Austin
After the initial gunfire, the suspect shot a car owner in the lot and stole the vehicle. He crashed it minutes later, then stormed into a Volkswagen dealership and threatened staff to steal another car.
The chase stretched 18 miles through the heart of Austin. Patrol units, with help from air support, boxed in the stolen vehicle on La Costa Drive. Officers tasered the suspect when he tried to resist and hauled him into custody.
A Suspect With a Past
Police identified the shooter as a 32-year-old white male with a criminal record and known mental health struggles. He wore khaki shorts and a floral shirt, a bizarre contrast to the violence he unleashed.
Chief Lisa Davis said investigators are combing through his history for clues. โWe will find out why he did this,โ she vowed, calling the rampage โa sickening, cowardly act of gun violence.โ
City Leaders React With Anger
Austinโs Mayor condemned the attack, calling it a tragedy that โstruck at the heart of our community.โ He promised support for the victimsโ families and pledged to fight what he called โan epidemic of senseless shootingsโ across America.
Onlookers crowded behind police tape, many still clutching bags from their interrupted shopping trips. In the heat, investigators collected shell casings and documented bullet holes.
Victimsโ Identities Withheld
Police have not released the names of the three people killed. Officers continue to notify families. A child remains among the injured, though doctors have not shared details about their condition. Local hospitals confirmed treating multiple victims from the attack.
Shoppers Left Stranded
Officers sealed off the parking lot, leaving dozens of vehicles behind crime tape. Some still hold fresh groceries. Police urged shoppers to find other transportation until the investigation ends. โWe will let you know as soon as you can retrieve your vehicle,โ the department said.
Investigation Intensifies
Detectives are piecing together the suspectโs movements from his arrival at Target to his final arrest. They are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and pulling digital records. Forensic teams continue to process ballistic evidence.
Community On Edge
Many in Austin say the shock has not faded. Parents spoke about holding their kids close when the gunfire began. Workers from nearby stores described locking doors and sheltering customers in back rooms. The randomness of the attack has left the city rattled.
What Happens Next
Prosecutors plan to charge the suspect with multiple counts of capital murder, carjacking, and aggravated assault. Officials say they will seek the harshest penalties. Meanwhile, Austin prepares for a vigil to honor three lives stolen in a place they thought was safe.
