Newsman: Three people were declared dead at the scene of a shooting in Austin, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, emergency officials said on Twitter. The suspect’s motive is currently unknown.
At a news conference later in the afternoon, Joseph Chacon, the interim police chief of the Austin Police, told reporters that the alleged suspect, Stephen Nicholas Broderick, 41, was still on the loose and was considered “armed and dangerous.” Chacon confirmed reports that Broderick was a former deputy at the Travis County Sheriff’s Department.
Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kristen Dark told CNN Broderick resigned from the department last year after he was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child. He was arrested June 20 and released on bond the same month.
“We don’t know if he is in a vehicle or on foot,” Chacon said, and asked for residents to continue to shelter in place and report suspicious activity.” At around 4:45 p.m. local time, officers lifted the shelter in place order for nearby residents but asked them to remain vigilant and alert the authorities if they see the alleged suspect.
When officials arrived on scene, two women and a man were found shot to death outside an apartment building.
Austin police did not release the names of the victims, who they said were two Hispanic females and a Black male. They said on Twitter that the incident appeared to be “a domestic situation that is isolated and there is no risk to the general public.”
Authorities are calling a domestic incident in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon Chacon said the investigation was still ongoing and officers were searching for clues, but confirmed the shooting was of a domestic nature and the suspect allegedly targeted the three victims.
The incident took place around 11:40 a.m. local time in the 9600 block of Great Hills Trail, police said.
There was a child involved with the situation, and officers were able to locate and take the child into custody, Chacon said. It is not known what connection the child has to the alleged suspect or victims.
“We will transition in a search in this area to a fugitive search,” Chacon said.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation.
