A peaceful Monday afternoon turned into a nightmare for shoppers at a busy Target in Austin, Texas, when gunfire erupted—leaving at least two people dead and sending dozens scrambling for cover.
The Austin Police Department confirmed that the suspected gunman, described by witnesses as a white male wearing khaki shorts and a Hawaiian floral shirt, was captured after a tense manhunt that began with officers warning the public he was still at large.
By 4:30 p.m., police swarmed the store on Research Boulevard, sealing off the area with yellow tape as terrified customers were escorted out by armed officers.
“We heard about six or seven shots, then people started screaming and running toward the exits,” said Maria Hernandez, who was shopping with her two children when the shooting began. “I grabbed my kids and we hit the floor. I thought we were going to die.”
Authorities initially issued an urgent description of the suspect, cautioning residents to avoid the area. Within hours, police announced that the man had been taken into custody without further incident. His name and motive have not yet been released.
Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson told reporters the investigation is “far from over.”
“This was a tragic and senseless act of violence,” Henderson said. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone who endured the fear and chaos inside that store today.”
Shoppers who escaped the building described scenes of panic. One man told local outlet KTBC that employees herded customers into stockrooms and locked doors to keep them safe until police arrived.
The Target store, located in a high-traffic retail corridor, will remain closed as investigators process the scene. Police say they are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together the timeline of events.
Texas has seen a sharp rise in high-profile shootings in recent years, with the Austin area no stranger to tragedy. In 2021, a gunman killed three people in a domestic violence-related attack just miles away from Monday’s scene.
As detectives work to determine the shooter’s motive, the community is reeling.
“I’m just thankful my kids are alive,” Hernandez said. “But I keep thinking about those families who won’t be taking their loved ones home tonight.”
This is a developing story.
If you’d like, I can also add a sidebar “timeline” of the shooting with timestamps for an even punchier, minute-by-minute breakdown. That would make it feel even more like a live-breaking news piece. Would you like me to add that?
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It easy to get shot going to target stores these days.