A weekend shooting spree spanning at least 12 incidents in Austin, Texas, ended with three teenagers in custody and four people hospitalized, one with critical injuries, according to CBS News.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the chain of events started when a car was taken from an apartment complex and a gun was reported stolen from a nearby store. Davis said that while investigators initially did not connect the two thefts, roughly 20 more calls tied to the suspects soon came in, most of them concentrated in South and East Austin, according to CBS News.
Targets included apartment buildings, private homes, and two fire stations. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson noted that at one of the targeted stations, firefighters were positioned directly behind a truck when it was hit, according to ABC News. When the shootings resumed Sunday morning, one victim was struck from behind while out walking his dog, Davis said. In total, three fire department vehicles, four residences, and five other vehicles were struck by gunfire, and at least five vehicles were stolen, according to CBS News.
Throughout the spree, the teens cycled through multiple stolen vehicles, with investigators noting what appeared to be deliberate car-switching as events unfolded. The gun used throughout the incidents was allegedly taken by the 15-year-old from a store; the 17-year-old, Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, was already wanted on a warrant stemming from a separate theft at that same store, according to CBS News.
Acting on information from Austin police, officers from the Manor Police Department and Travis County Sheriff's Office intercepted a stolen white Kia Optima near FM 973, whereupon all three occupants bolted from the vehicle. One was caught close to where the car was abandoned; the other was tracked down only after a multi-agency effort that deployed K9 teams and aircraft, according to ABC News. The third teenager, age 16, came into custody separately when Manor officers answering a suspicious person report in the area found and detained him, according to ABC News.
Residents across much of southern Austin were directed to stay indoors while police hunted for the remaining suspects; once the first two were in custody, authorities ended the shelter-in-place directive, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Watson said no motive had been identified. "I don't know what motive would drive anybody to drive around senselessly in this city, in multiple parts of this city, shooting," he told CBS News.
By Monday, police had revised their characterization of the spree, telling reporters that while certain victims had prior ties to the suspects, others were apparently chosen at random with no discernible link, according to CBS News. Police said charging decisions were still being finalized but anticipated filings would cover offenses including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, and firearm theft, among others.