Three individuals were killed—including the suspected gunman—and 14 others were injured in a shooting early Sunday at a well-known bar in Austin, the capital of Texas, according to police.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated that a man driving an SUV pulled up near the bar, activated the vehicle’s hazard lights, rolled down his window, and began firing a pistol—striking customers on the bar’s patio and in front of the establishment.
The suspect then parked the SUV, exited the vehicle armed with a rifle, and started shooting at people passing by, Davis added. At that moment, police officers encountered the suspect and shot him.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office noted that the shooting was “potentially” an act of terrorism.
“There were signs on the individual and inside his vehicle that suggest a potential connection to terrorism. Again, it’s still too soon to make a definitive call on that,” Doran explained.
During an earlier news briefing, Davis mentioned that police received a report of a “male shooting” at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden—located in the city’s bustling nightlife area—before 2 a.m.
When officers arrived at the scene, they encountered a man with a firearm and then “returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect,” Davis stated.
EMS Chief Robert Luckritz reported that three people were found deceased at the scene, and 14 others were injured and transported to hospitals. Of those hurt, three were in critical condition. The shooter was among the dead.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson commended the swift response from police and emergency responders.
“They undoubtedly saved lives,” Watson remarked.