AUSTIN, Texas — A tragic incident occurred Monday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of three individuals following a shooting in the parking lot of the Target store located at 8601 Research Blvd., close to Ohlen Road in North Austin.

Austin Police Department (APD) Chief Lisa Davis reported that at approximately 2:15 p.m., a shooting was reported at the Target location, prompting a swift response from officers. The suspect, a 32-year-old man with a known history of mental health problems, fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, which he crashed before commandeering another car. He was eventually apprehended in the 2400 block of La Costa Drive in southeast Austin after being subdued with a Taser.

According to Davis, the incident claimed three lives. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz stated that two victims died at the scene in the parking lot, while the third succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Additionally, a fourth individual received treatment on-site for unrelated injuries.

Initially, there were reports from APD suggesting that a child might have been involved in the shooting. However, during a press briefing at 4 p.m., neither Davis nor Luckritz provided further updates concerning that information.

As the investigation remains active, APD announced that as of just before 4 p.m., vehicles in the Target parking lot cannot be removed until the preliminary investigation concludes. Shoppers are advised to secure alternative means of transportation home and will be informed when it is safe to reclaim their vehicles.

Furthermore, APD has advised that the 8000 block of the MoPac southbound frontage road is closed between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane. Meanwhile, the main northbound and southbound lanes of MoPac remain open for traffic. 

In a post on social media, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said, “This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families. While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I’ll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence. I am grateful for the quick response of our APD officers and other first responders and want to thank them for their actions to apprehend the suspect.”

Target also issued a statement after the shooting on Monday, saying:

“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. 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.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.