THREE people are dead after a shooting erupted on the parking lot of a Target shopping center on Monday.
The shooting occurred at around 2 pm at one of the retailer’s locations in Austin, Texas.
“This is a very sad day for Austin. It’s a very sad day for us all,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said.
At 2:23 pm, Austin police arrived at the Target parking area and discovered two individuals dead from gunshot wounds, as reported by Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz.
A third victim was transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The identities of the victims have not been disclosed by investigators.
Davis mentioned that the suspect, a 32-year-old man with known mental health issues, carjacked one of the victims in the store’s parking lot, resulting in a fatal shooting.
The suspected gunman then fled the scene and wrecked the stolen vehicle and ran into a Volkswagen dealership, the police chief added.
There, the suspect carjacked another vehicle at the dealership and sped off.
Authorities tracked the suspect down to southeast Austin, where he was arrested after being Tased by officers.
Details about what led up to the shooting have not been disclosed.
Davis, the Austin Police chief, said the suspect has a rap sheet.
“We extend our sympathies to the families affected. This is a tragic event, and our thoughts are also with the officers, EMS, and fire personnel who responded to the scene, as well as the forensics team and everyone involved,” she stated.
Davis said a fourth person was treated on scene for unrelated injuries.
Initial reports from local outlets claimed a child was among those involved in the shooting; however, Davis declined to confirm the reportings.
Video from the scene showed a large police and emergency personnel presence on the Target parking lot.
Additional footage showed Target employees and customers being evacuated from the store.
The shooting occurred as parents and children in the Austin region were out shopping for back to school essentials.
Davis noted that because of the ongoing crime scene investigation, vehicles in the parking lot will not be available to their owners until the initial inquiry is finalized.
