In Texas, there was a massive shooting: 13 wounded, the police are looking for a suspect
At least 13 people were injured in the mass shooting in a vibrant entertainment district in downtown Austin, Texas on Saturday night, June 12. The edition told in more detail NBC News.
"I'm happy to report that no one died," Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said.
According to him, the first shots were fired at about 01:24. The street was barricaded to prevent crowds and traffic.
“We have two patients in critical condition,” he added. “A total of 11 people were taken to one hospital, one to another, and one person went to an emergency clinic.” Thus, there are 13 victims in total.”
“Our officers responded very quickly,” the police chief noted. “They were able to take immediate life-saving action on many of these patients.”
“I heard shots and then everyone started running in different directions,” he said. “People were very scared, some cried, but most were just scared,” writes USA Today.
Blount, 26, remembers running into a bar, closing the door and locking it, because he could not immediately determine where the shots came from.
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Moments later, when he thought it was safe, the guy went outside and saw police dragging a wounded man to safety and then administering first aid. “The situation was very tense,” he noted.
Chacon said "the motive for the shooting is unclear" as officers are still reviewing video footage from the scene.
The shooter has not been detained yet. The police have a very general description of the suspect, writes CNN.
Although it is not known if there was actually only one shooter. The police are leaning towards this version and, according to the description, are looking for "a dark-skinned man with dreadlocks, a black shirt, a thin build," writes The Guardian.
“At this time, this appears to be an isolated incident,” Austin police said in a statement.
Active Attack response to 400 E 6th St (01:25) Multiple patients with reports of at least 1 patient CPR in progress. Avoid the area! More information to follow.
- ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) June 12, 2021
Chacon told reporters that police investigation units for aggravated assault and murder are investigating the incident. The FBI counterterrorism task force also arrived at the crime scene.
Police said there was a crowd close to the size of a "pre-pandemic" group in the city's entertainment district at the time, meaning there were potentially tens of thousands of people there.
A biker rally in Austin this weekend also typically draws thousands of riders to the city and entertainment districts.
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Austin Mayor Steve Adler thanked law enforcement, firefighters and ambulances "for their prompt response," and noted the increased incidence of gun violence in the area.
“The increase in local violence is part of an alarming increase in gun violence across the country as we emerge from the pandemic,” Adler said.
He stressed that Austin police and city council are stepping up violence prevention measures in response to this trend.
“One thing is clear—more access to firearms does not mean greater public safety,” said Dewitt Peart, president and CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance. “We are saddened that Austin joins the long list of communities where mass shootings have occurred. This senseless violence must stop. We will continue our work to ensure that downtown is safe, clean and welcoming for everyone, but today our thoughts are with those affected by this shooting. We need to come together, take care of each other and be together for Austin.”
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