Austin law enforcement officials announced Sunday that they have detained two teenage suspects following a weekend crime spree that involved a dozen separate shooting incidents across the Texas capital.
During a news briefing, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis revealed that officers had arrested a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old male in connection with the shooting incidents that occurred throughout Saturday and into early Sunday morning across south and east sections of the city.
The violent episodes resulted in four individuals being struck by gunfire, according to Davis. One victim sustained serious wounds while three others received minor injuries during the incidents.
Davis disclosed that the younger suspect had stolen a firearm from a retail establishment on Saturday. The older teen was already wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for allegedly stealing a weapon from that same store, the chief explained.
Throughout their crime spree, the pair stole more than four different vehicles while traveling around Austin, Davis reported. She noted that information from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office indicated a third young Hispanic male escaped on foot when officers captured the two juveniles.
The police chief stated that investigators have not yet determined what motivated the shooting incidents, which remain under active investigation.
Davis described how two of the shooting episodes targeted separate fire stations, with one incident resulting in damage to a truck. Additional shootings were directed at residential structures throughout the area, she explained.
