Three people lost their lives when a gunman opened fire at a Target parking lot in Austin on Monday afternoon. The suspect was apprehended after crashing a stolen vehicle.

The attacker, described as a white male wearing a Hawaiian shirt, began shooting at shoppers at the Research Boulevard store in Texas shortly after 2pm. Police reported receiving the first call about the shooting at 2.15pm.

When Austin police then arrived at the scene, they found three people shot in the parking lot. 

Medics pronounced two of the victims dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to their injuries en route to a local hospital. 

One other victim suffered unrelated injuries and was treated at the scene, authorities said.

Identified as a 32-year-old white male with known mental health issues and prior criminal offenses, the suspect fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.

He subsequently crashed, which led to him hijacking another vehicle from a nearby Volkswagen dealership, according to Police Chief Lisa Davis during a news conference that evening.

But officers were quickly able to track down the suspect about 18 miles south of the shooting.

Police then used a Taser on the suspect and took him into custody, though he has not yet been charged and a motive remains unclear.

Those at the Target have told how they ran for cover.

‘I was inside the store when I heard over the radio that shots were fired, leading us to evacuate,’ recounted Freyen Sagastume, an employee, to KXAN.

‘I thought that this only happened like in the news and stuff and then like I kind of just froze at first, but then I saw everyone running.’ 

Meanwhile, at the nearby Jiffy Lube, employees hunkered down and locked the store’s doors when they became aware there was a shooting outside.

One mechanic, Paul Smith, told Spectrum Local News he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic.

‘I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before,’ he recounted.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has been informed of the shooting and is being kept abreast of developments. 

‘This is a devastating situation and my heart is with the victims and their families,’ he wrote on X.

The mayor labeled the incident ‘a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence’ and expressed gratitude for the prompt response of the APD officers and other first responders, commending their swift action in capturing the suspect.

A spokesperson for Target also said it will be providing counseling to staff members who experienced the shooting. 

 ‘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,’ the spokesperson said.

‘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.’