Three people were killed in a shooting outside a Target store in Austin, Texas, on Monday, Aug. 11, police said.
The Austin Police Department reported the shooting at the Target on 8601 Research Boulevard in North Austin just after 2 p.m. Officers were searching for a man wearing khaki shorts and a floral-print shirt. Within an hour, police said they had arrested the suspect.
According to Police Chief Lisa Davis, the suspect, a 32-year-old man, stole a car from the scene and drove away. He then crashed the stolen car, took another car from a dealership, and was later caught in South Austin. Officers used a stun gun to subdue him before taking him into custody.
One of the victims is believed to be the driver of the first stolen car.
“This is a very sad day for Austin,” Chief Davis said, adding that the suspect has a history of mental health issues.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the shooting “a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence” and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He also thanked police and other first responders for their quick actions in capturing the suspect.
The investigation is still ongoing.
