Houston, (Xinhua) — A tragic shooting at a Target store in Austin, Texas, on Monday afternoon has left three people dead, authorities confirmed.
The Austin Police Department reported that the shooting occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) at the Target location on Research Boulevard. Officers responded to a call about gunfire at approximately 2:15 p.m.
Upon arrival, police discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. All three victims were later pronounced dead. One of the deceased was identified as the owner of a vehicle that the suspect allegedly stole from the store’s parking lot while fleeing the scene.
The suspect, a 32-year-old male, crashed the first stolen vehicle shortly after the incident and proceeded to steal another car from a nearby dealership, authorities said during a press briefing.
Police were able to locate and apprehend the suspect in the southern part of the city after he abandoned the second vehicle. A tip from a civilian led officers to his location. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident earlier Monday, a shooting on Emory University’s campus in Atlanta, Georgia, left one law enforcement officer injured and the shooter dead.
NBC News cited the Atlanta Police Department in reporting that the shooter acted alone and no longer poses a threat to the campus community. The university issued a shelter-in-place order, which has since been lifted.
Both incidents have sparked renewed concerns about gun violence and public safety in the United States.
Further updates will follow as investigations continue.
