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Crime, Law and Justice
The Associated Press, NPR

Police search for suspect in Austin, Texas, shooting that wounded 14 people

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Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon updates reporters on the attack in Austin, Texas, early Saturday.
Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon updates reporters on the attack in Austin, Texas, early Saturday.
Austin Police Department via AP

Updated: 3:25 p.m.

Police were searching for two people suspected in a mass shooting on a crowded downtown Austin, Texas, street early Saturday in which 14 people were wounded, including two critically.

Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the shooting on a street packed with bars and barricaded off from vehicle traffic occurred at around 1:30 a.m. and that investigators believe it started as a dispute between two parties. He said police are searching for two male suspects, but he declined to disclose details such as whether both fired shots, saying the investigation was ongoing and the department was working to take them into custody.

"Most of the victims were innocent bystanders, but we're still sorting out all of the victims to see what their involvement is in this case," Chacon said.

The mass shooting — one of at least three in the U.S. overnight — sparked panic along Sixth Street, a popular nightlife destination in the city that's home to the University of Texas.

One witness, Matt Perlstein, told KXAN-TV that he was waiting with a friend to enter a bar when the shooting began.

"Everything was totally fine," Perlstein said, then gunfire erupted. "We just heard like ... a bunch of gunshots going off. Everyone got on the ground. We couldn't even comprehend what was going on at the time."

Chacon said his officers responded quickly to the scene.

"They were able to immediately begin life-saving measures for many of these patients, including applications of tourniquets; applications of chest seals," he said.

Because of the chaos on the barricaded street, police drove six of the wounded to hospitals in their squad cars. Ambulances transported four people and the other four made their own way to hospitals, he said.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement thanking police and other first responders and offering prayers to the victims. He said the state Department of Public Safety is assisting in the investigation.