TIMELINE: How Tuesday’s shooting spree in Austin, Bexar County unfolded
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Six people are dead and three others are injured, including two police officers, after a series of shootings in Austin and Bexar County Tuesday.
The suspect, Shane James, 34, was arrested Tuesday night and booked into the Travis County Jail. He is charged with capital murder of multiple people, according to jail records.
The string of violence started in San Antonio, before the suspect traveled to Austin and shot several people across multiple locations, according to police.
ONGOING COVERAGE: Six people dead after shooting spree in Austin, double homicide in Bexar Co.
Here’s how the day unfolded, based on information from the Austin Police Department, the Austin Independent School District and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Suspect’s parents killed in Bexar County
Sometime between 10 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Tuesday: The suspect shot and killed two people inside a home on Port Royal Street. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office tentatively identified the victims as Phyllis James, 55, and Shane James, Sr., 56. Sheriff Salazar said the victims are believed to be the suspect’s parents. Several shots were filed from a large caliber handgun, Salazar said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
A sibling of the suspect last spoke to one of the victims at around 10 p.m. Monday. At 9 a.m. Tuesday, a neighbor noticed the father’s vehicle was not in the driveway, which they thought was odd. The neighbor told deputies they assumed the son had taken the father’s car.
Deputies did not know about the shooting until later in the evening, after the several shooting incidents in Austin.
Austin ISD police officer shot
10:40 a.m.: An AISD sergeant performing a daily check at Northeast Early College High School, at 7300 Berkman Drive, was shot in the leg. He was later identified by AISD as Sgt. Val Barnes.
10:43 a.m.: The School Resource Officer (SRO) for the campus arrived as backup and assisted the officer who was struck.
10:44 a.m.: Austin-Travis County EMS medics arrived on scene. The officer was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No one else was injured.
10:46 a.m.: The school went into lockdown.
10:47 a.m.: Austin Police Department officers arrived on scene to assist. A total of 15 agencies responded to the scene in total, according to AISD PD Chief Wayne Sneed.
11:48 a.m.: Austin ISD posts on social media that “the campus is safe” but remained on lockdown.
Two people killed in south Austin
11:59 a.m.: Austin 911 received multiple calls for help in the 7300 block of Shadywood Drive. The callers reported they heard gunshots, and that there were possibly two victims.
12:04 p.m.: APD officers arrived on scene and located a man and woman with “obvious signs of trauma.” Officers began performing life-saving measures, and were joined by ATCEMS medics.
One of the victims was pronounced deceased on scene. The other was taken to a local hospital, where they died.
A spokesperson for APD urged the public to remain vigilant and be mindful of their surroundings, as no suspect was in custody.
“I thought I heard something like fireworks or something,” Paul Garcia, who lives in the neighborhood, told KXAN. “The police were going down the street. I stepped out and looked down the street and there’s just somebody laying on the sidewalk. The policeman is giving him CPR.”
12:45 p.m.: A social media post from AISD said Northeast Early College High School was still on lockdown, and that a ‘controlled release’ would begin when the campus was cleared.
2:00 p.m.: The school began the controlled release, with family reunifications at Delco Activity Center. Classes and after-school activities were canceled for Wednesday.
Cyclist, officer shot in southwest Austin
4:57 p.m.: Austin 911 received a call from 5701 W. Slaughter Lane. A cyclist said he had been shot. The victim had non-life threatening injuries.
6:48 p.m.: Austin 911 received a call about a burglary in progress in the 5300 block of Austral Loop, near MoPac Expressway and La Crosse Avenue.
6:54 p.m.: The initial responding APD officer arrived on scene and encountered a male suspect in the backyard of the residence. The suspect “immediately” opened fire at the officer, according to APD Interim Chief Robin Henderson. The officer returned fire at the suspect.
The officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds and moved to a position of cover. It was later determined the suspect had not been hit by gunfire.
6:55 p.m.: An officer communicated over police radio that shots had been fired and that an officer needed assistance.
6:56 p.m.: The news that an officer had been shot is relayed over the police radio.
6:58 p.m.: ATCEMS and the Austin Fire Department are called to the scene to provide medical assistance. Meanwhile, officers stated the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle.
7:04 p.m.: The officer was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was listed in stable condition.
Additional officers entered the home on Austral Loop. Two “apparent victims of the suspect” were found inside and pronounced deceased on scene.
7:14 p.m.: After a pursuit with officers, the suspect crashed the vehicle at the intersection of SH 45 and FM 1826. He was taken into custody.
Two found dead in Bexar County
7:45 p.m.: The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office received a call from APD, saying the suspect in the Austin shootings had links to a residence on Port Royal Street. Deputies responded to the home and saw water coming out from under the door, as if something was leaking inside.
Deputies forced entry into the home and found two people dead inside, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, who described it as a “pretty grisly crime scene.”
1:32 a.m.: The suspect was booked into the Travis County Jail, charged with capital murder and also on an outstanding warrant on assault with injury/family violence charge. Chief Henderson said further charges are pending.
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