AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — Three people were killed in a shooting at a Target in north Austin, Texas, Monday afternoon, police said.
Police were called to the Target located at 8601 Research Boulevard at 2:15 p.m., said Chief Lisa Davis. They arrived on scene within minutes and found three people shot in the Target parking lot.
The suspect hijacked a car and took off, Davis said. He crashed that car, she said, then hijacked another vehicle.
He was finally detained in south Austin after being tased. The suspect was described by Davis as a 32-year-old man with a history of mental health issues, but his name was not released.
Police said two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and another was transported to a local hospital where they died. A fourth person was treated for unrelated injuries, authorities said.
“I was inside the store but then I hear on the radio like shots fired so then they just told us active shooter…so we just ran outside, we told guests to get out,” Freyen Sagastume, a Target employee said.
Police declined to share details on the victims Monday afternoon. “This is a very sad day for Austin. It’s a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families,” Davis said.
Police urged the community to stay away from the Target store.
Roads in the area were also closed off Monday afternoon and vehicles were being held in the parking lot as the investigation continued.
