On December 5, 2023, a shooting spree in Austin, Texas resulted in the deaths of four people and left three others injured. Another shooting in Bexar County that resulted in two deaths was said to be connected to the shootings.
| 2023 Central Texas spree killings | |
|---|---|
| Location | Austin and Bexar County, Texas, United States |
| Date | December 4–5, 2023 10:40 am – 6:54 pm (CST) |
Attack type | Spree shooting, mass shooting, parricide, mass murder |
| Weapon | .45-caliber 1911A1 handgun |
| Deaths | 6 |
| Injured | 3 |
| Motive | Under investigation[1] |
| Accused | Shane Matthew James Jr. |
Shootings
editAustin
editAt around 10:40 am. CST, a resource officer was shot and injured near Northeast Early College High School. The sergeant, who is responsible for several campuses, was shot in the leg during his daily check on the high school. During the shooting, the officer reported that he was taking gunfire, and another resource officer arrived to provide backup to the injured sergeant. The shooting caused the campus to go into lockdown, and the Austin Police Department responded at around 10:47. After, the school did a controlled release of its students.
At 11:59 am, a double homicide was reported near Shadywood Lane, where a man and a woman were killed. Police said that the victims had "obvious signs of trauma to their bodies". One of the victims was found dead at the scene, while the other died from their injuries at a local hospital. Fox 7 Austin reported that the suspect saw a handyman sitting in his car, and then shot him through the passenger window. A woman then came out to see what happened, and the man chased and then shot her.[2]
At 4:57 pm, a cyclist riding on West Slaughter Lane was shot and injured. The man was said to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
At 6:54 pm, officers responded to a burglary on Austral Loop. An officer who responded found the suspect in the house's backyard, and they both exchanged fire. During the shootout, the suspect shot and injured the officer. The officer shot back but wasn't able to hit the suspect. The suspect then fled the scene. The officer was said to have suffered non-fatal injuries. Police found two bodies inside the home that had been burglarized, both of which suffered from fatal gunshot wounds.[3][4][5][6]
Bexar County
editBexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said that police discovered two bodies in a home in the San Antonio area. The bodies were "wedged inside a very small room".[7] After learning about the suspect in the Austin shootings, Salazar said that he had "links" to the home.[8] Phyllis James and Shane James, the suspect's parents, are believed to be the victims.[9]
Chase and suspect
editAfter fleeing the shooting on Austral Loop, the suspect got into a police chase. He drove a stolen Acura, and reached speeds of up to 90 mph.[10] The chase ended at around 7:14 p.m. when the suspect crashed his vehicle near FM 1826 and MoPac.[3][7] Police found a 1911 A1 .45-caliber pistol and handgun magazines on him.[10]
The suspect, 34-year-old Shane Matthew James Jr. of San Antonio, was charged with four counts of capital murder, and held without bond.[1][5] James reportedly had a history of violence and suffered from mental health issues. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was discharged and arrested due to a domestic violence incident in January 2022, though he was eventually released on bail. In August 2023, police were called due to reports that James was suffering from a mental health episode but they "left the residence without taking him into custody on the misdemeanor warrants to avoid a possible violent confrontation."[11][12]
Reactions
editPresident Biden called on Republicans to ban assault weapons and urged them to help take action on gun control after the shootings in Central Texas and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.[13] Biden also said that he and Jill Biden joined citizens across the nation in praying for the fallen.[14][15]
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, on a post on X, described the shootings as heinous, and said that James, the perpetrator, must "never see the light of day". Abbott also said that he and his wife Cecilia were praying for the recovery of the injured, and thanked law enforcement for risking their lives to apprehend James.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b Mckay, Rich (December 6, 2023). Berkrot, Bill (ed.). "Texas authorities seek motive after six killed in daylong shooting spree". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023.
- ^ "APD officer injured in shooting in Southwest Austin; suspect in custody". FOX 7 Austin. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Pauda, Erica; Schnitker, Andrew; Ramkissoon, Jaclyn; Jones, Abigail; Hollis, Brianna (December 6, 2023). "Six people dead after shooting spree in Austin, double homicide in Bexar Co". KXAN Austin. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ Cradduck, Josh; Austin, Henry (December 6, 2023). "Texas shooting spree: 6 found dead in Austin, San Antonio". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Alonso, Melissa; Rose, Andy; Maxouris, Christina (December 6, 2023). "Texas shootings: Suspect in custody after 6 killed and 3 injured in a series of homicides and shootings in Austin and Bexar County". CNN. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "6 killed in Texas shootings in Austin and San Antonio; suspect in custody". CBS News. December 6, 2023. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Plohetski, Tony; Eubank, Britny; Diaz, John; Tucker, Aubry (December 5, 2023). "Several dead, 2 officers hurt after multiple shootings across Austin on Tuesday". KVUE. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ Ives, Mike (December 6, 2023). "Several Killed in Shootings Across Central Texas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ Lynch, David (December 5, 2023). "Bexar County victims in deadly spree from SA to Austin were suspect's parents, BCSO says". KVUE. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Ortiz, Erik (December 9, 2023). "Father watched from live feed as Texas shooting suspect allegedly broke into home where family was killed". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Halpert, Madeline; Wendling, Mike (December 6, 2023). "Army vet accused of killing parents and 4 others". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Texas shooting suspect avoided arrest prior to rampage that killed 6". Fox News. Associated Press. December 8, 2023. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024.
- ^ Mueller, Julia (December 7, 2023). "Biden urges GOP to help reform gun laws after shootings in Texas, Nevada". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "Biden calls on Republicans to ban assault weapons after Nevada, Texas shootings". NBC News. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on the Shootings in Texas and Nevada". The White House. December 6, 2023. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Whitney, Luke (December 6, 2023). "National, State leaders comment on recent shooting spree in Texas". KENS 5. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2023.