There were three deaths and 14 injured in a shooting early Sunday morning at a bar in downtown Austin, Texas, which the FBI said may be connected to terrorism. File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE
Three people were killed and at least others 14 others injured in a mass shooting overnight in Austin, Texas.
Austin police responded to reports of gunfire at Buford’s bar in downtown Austin just before 2:00 a.m. early Sunday morning, with officers firing back and killing the suspected shooter, KVUE, KXAN and KUT 90.5 reported.
Of the 14 people who were hurt, three are in critical condition as the Austin Police Department and the FBI investigate the shooting.
“I’m very thankful for the speed with which our public safety officials responded to this,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson told reporters at a press conference. “I don’t think there’s any question that it saved lives.”
APD Chief Lisa Davis said during the press conference that the suspected shooter, who was one of the three people killed, circled the block where Buford’s is located several times before he stopped, rolled down the windows and shot at people at the bar.
The shooter then exited his SUV and started shooting at people walking along the street.
Police responded quickly, engaging the shooter, returning fire and killing him as EMT started attending to people who had been shot.
“We have paramedics that are embedded in the entertainment district and with the Austin Police Department on the weekends,” ATCEMS Chief Robert Luckritz said during the press conference. “We received the call at 1:59 a.m. and within 57 seconds the first paramedics and officers were on scene actively treating the patients.”
The FBI said it has not determined a motivation for the shooting yet, but that there were “indicators” on the shooter and in his car suggesting a “potential nexus to terrorism.”
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a press conference after the weekly Republican Senate caucus luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
