A shooting in a crowded entertainment district of downtown Austin early Sunday set off a chaotic scene, leaving one woman dead and three others wounded and police searching for a suspect.
Austin Police Chief of Staff Brian Manley said police received reports of gunshots in the crowded entertainment area shortly after 2 a.m. Police arrived to find a chaotic scene and five people shot.
Mr. Manley said a suspect began firing into the crowd after an initial disturbance. He said another victim declined to be transported to the hospital.
“It was a very chaotic scene,” he said. “A lot of people running in different directions with all the gunshots coming out.”
Police originally reported an active shooter scene in the area, but Manley said two separate incidents caused the confusion. He said there was another confrontation in a nearby parking garage and that a shot was fired there. A man was transported to the hospital after that confrontation, but his condition was not immediately known.
Update: separate shootings within the same area. Both scenes are secure at this time. PIO responding to identify staging area.
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) >July 31, 2016
Police had warned people to stay away from downtown.
No additional information was immediately available.
If anyone has video or info specifically about the shooting on 6th street email APD at police3@austintexas.gov -PIO1
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) >July 31, 2016
