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Austin police arrested two juveniles Sunday who investigators believe are connected to 12 shootings across the city that injured four people, struck two fire stations and prompted a shelter-in-place order in South Austin.
Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said investigators arrested a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old following the shooting, which began Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning.
“We have two suspects in custody,” Davis said at a press conference on Sunday. “We have a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old in custody.”
Authorities said the 17-year-old suspect already had a warrant for the theft of a gun from the store where the 15-year-old is suspected of stealing another gun.
TWO ARE ARRESTED AFTER WASHINGTON DC STATION SHOOTING.
Austin police have released surveillance photos of suspects investigators believe are connected to a string of shootings across the city. (Austin Police Department)
According to the police, the suspects are suspected to have stolen many cars during the violence and fired at apartments, houses, pedestrians and two fire stations.
Davis said another firefighter was shot twice and a fire truck was hit while firefighters were nearby.
Officials say four people were shot during the incident. One victim was seriously injured but is in stable condition, while the other three received non-life-threatening injuries.
3 TIMES SQUARE SHOOTING, A 17-year-old man was arrested after a late-night altercation.
Surveillance footage released by Austin police shows a suspect who investigators say is involved in multiple shootings across Austin. (Austin Police Department)
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said emergency responders treated victims at four different shooting locations across the city.
“Right now, most of the shootings are in South Austin,” Davis said Sunday. “There are no specific motives, and they seem random in nature.”
Authorities initially warned residents to take shelter in the cordoned off area of South Slaughter Lane, East McKinney Falls Parkway, North Ben White Boulevard and West Escarpment Boulevard while police searched for the suspects.
TEXAS POLICE ARRESTED 9 SUSPECTS ALLEGED TO BE INVOLVED IN 4 CRIMES NEAR Durban Mall AT BLITZ WORK.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis speaks during a news conference with city officials following a series of shootings in Austin. (Austin Police Department)
The shelter-in-place order was later lifted after two suspects were taken into custody, although police said a third person may have fled from a traffic stop in the Manor area.
Austin police said the suspects rode bikes in several vehicles stolen during the protest, including a black or dark blue Hyundai, a gold Hyundai sedan, a silver four-door Mazda and a white Kia Optima.
Davis urged residents not to leave keys or key fobs inside vehicles.
MARYLAND POLICE ARE BUSTED AFTER A YOUNG PEOPLE SUSPECTED IN OVER 100 VEHICLE HACKS WENT WITHIN HOURS OF ARRESTING.
A police officer stands behind crime scene tape at the scene of the investigation. (Stephanie Tacy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“What we see are these cars being stolen,” said Davis.
Authorities say the investigation began after officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle at the apartment complex and a stolen gun. Police later said that investigators linked the incidents to other reported shootings across the city.
Davis described the investigation as “complex” due to the number of scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings spread across multiple Austin neighborhoods.
GEORGIA TEEN ARRESTED AFTER FATHER TURNED HER IN FOLLOWING TWO SHOOTINGS, POLICE SAY.
Police said officers responded to a shooting involving apartments and homes while going door-to-door to ensure that residents were not injured.
Davis said that a surveillance video showed one person being shot in front of a store where two people were hit after the suspects fired at a passing car.
Police also said a man who was walking his dog was shot in the back on Sunday morning.
PHILADELPHIA TEEN BASHED IN SERIES OF ‘INTRA-COMMUNICATION’ ATTACKS WITHIN HOUR
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the coordinated response from local and state law enforcement agencies, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, the Manor Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“This was a fast-moving event involving multiple incidents in multiple locations,” Watson said.
Davis also suggested that license plate reading technology could help investigators quickly link shootings to stolen vehicle reports.
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“We have to take seriously the fact that we have two kids, 15 and 17 years old, running around with guns causing this mess,” said Davis.
