A tragic incident unfolded on Monday in Austin, Texas, where a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a Target store, resulting in the deaths of two adults and a child.
Authorities reported that the suspect, a man in his 30s with a documented mental health history, fled the scene shortly after the attack.
Police Chief Lisa Davis informed the public that the investigation is ongoing as they work to ascertain the motive behind the shooting.
Following the initial attack, the gunman fled the parking lot in a stolen vehicle, but later crashed that car and subsequently stole another from a nearby dealership.
His escape came to a halt roughly 30 kilometers away, in south Austin, where officers were able to detain him using a Taser.
At approximately 2:15 PM, officers arrived at the Target store after being alerted to the gunfire, where they discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot.
According to Davis, one of the victims was likely the owner of the vehicle taken by the suspect.
Emergency Medical Services reported that an adult and a child were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third adult succumbed to injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
Additionally, a fourth individual received treatment for a minor medical issue unrelated to the gunfire.
“This is a very sad day for Austin,” Davis said. “It’s a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families.”
The police chief mentioned that further details regarding the identities of the victims had yet to be released.
Witness Lonnie Lee, 22, described a narrow escape, recalling how she and her sister had visited the Target just hours before the shooting incident.
Upon returning to the area to continue shopping, they were shocked to find the parking lot cordoned off and swarming with police personnel.
“We got really, really lucky,” Lee expressed, reflecting on the unfortunate fate of other shoppers that day.
The shooting incident coincided with the busy back-to-school shopping period as families prepared for the upcoming academic year.
In response to the tragedy, Target issued a statement expressing their devastation over the events, announcing their commitment to providing grief counseling for employees.
“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 statement said.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson took to social media, sharing his sentiments with the victims’ families and condemning the shooting as a “sickening, cowardly act of gun violence.”
Employees at a Jiffy Lube located next to the Target reacted quickly to the unfolding situation, locking their doors to protect themselves as chaos erupted in the parking lot.
One employee, Paul Smith, recounted witnessing customers scattering in fear as they fled their vehicles.
Remarkably, Smith had just returned from the Target minutes before the shooting commenced.
This incident in Austin follows a recent attack at a Walmart store in Michigan, where a man stands accused of stabbing 11 individuals, resulting in terrorism and attempted murder charges.
The community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, as questions regarding safety and the implications of gun violence persist.
image source from：siasat
