FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: Two teens arrested in 12 Austin shootings

[0:00] Good evening everybody and thank you for being here. I want to start off by first thanking [0:05] the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department led by our Chief of Police, Chief [0:10] Lisa Davis. I'm very proud of all of our public safety personnel. Chief Davis recognizing the [0:19] need for lots of eyes on this incident, not knowing what we were dealing with, needing [0:25] professionalism, activated a command center to be part of what we were part of our experience here [0:30] today. So our fire, EMS, emergency management, the counter assault strike team, all of those [0:39] organizations were together as part of a command center today. And I just, before we get into the [0:47] details of what's going on, I want to take a minute to recognize that because when we're talking about [0:54] keeping Austinites safe, having those professionals together, I will tell you it is, it is wonderful [1:02] to watch, even under these circumstances, because you see professionalism and deep caring for making [1:09] sure that our city is safe when they're together. There are no silos. It is one team. And so I am [1:17] very thankful for these public safety professionals. I have been in contact with a number of people, [1:23] including the mayor of Manor, Mayor Harvey, and we'll talk a little bit more about all of that. [1:27] But I've also been in contact with Governor Abbott, who has extended his support to Austin. This was a [1:34] rapidly evolving event involving multiple incidents in multiple locations, and the chief will walk you [1:39] through some of that. APD responded very quickly and with all investigative and patrol assets, [1:46] including Air One. As I indicated, I'm also appreciative of the Manor Police Department and Mayor Harvey's [1:53] help in that regard. I'm thankful for DPS's role in this and the Travis County Sheriff's Office as well. [2:02] You will hear more, but there were four victims of gunshot wounds. One is serious, but is in stable [2:09] condition. The victims of these crimes and their families are in our prayers. And finally, I want to [2:17] say before turning it over to the chief is how appreciative I am of the people of this city, [2:25] the people of Austin, who when a warning goes out, they're diligent. They pay attention to that. [2:33] They are watching out for each other, and they're doing it in a way so that our city is safer as a [2:40] result of that. And I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the people of [2:45] Austin for accommodating what we need to do when we have circumstances like this. I'm very appreciative. [2:54] We're going to learn more about all of this in the coming days. We ask, as always, in these situations [2:59] to please allow law enforcement to do their work. I'm now going to turn it over to Chief Davis to go over [3:05] a preliminary timeline of the events and give you more details. Chief. Thank you, Mayor. I want to [3:13] start by saying that our hearts are certainly with the victims of this and the families of those [3:18] involved in this senseless violence. I want to share some preliminary information with you, [3:23] but I also want you to understand how complex this whole situation was and how this spanned from [3:29] yesterday, about a quarter till four, till today. So regarding those shootings, at this point, [3:36] we have two suspects in custody. We have a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old in custody. [3:42] The 17-year-old has a warrant for a theft of a gun from the same store that the 15-year-old stole a gun [3:49] from yesterday. So we were first notified of this, that they stole a vehicle from an apartment complex. [3:57] Later, APD was notified about the theft of the firearm. At that point, we were not aware that these two [4:02] cases were connected. What transpired after that was an estimated of 20 service calls related [4:07] to these individuals, predominantly in south and east area Austin, areas of Austin. And so you [4:12] imagine shots being fired at a firehouse two times. They fired at a firehouse and struck a truck [4:18] into apartment buildings where officers then had to go door to door, ensuring that everyone inside [4:24] those homes were safe. And they did that. Resources were immediately called in to assist patrol. And we [4:30] started to make connections and identify those similarities. And then realized that the series of [4:34] stolen vehicles were involved. They stole over four vehicles during this whole spree. Again, [4:41] the several challenges in the beginning, which made it difficult to connect those calls and how all [4:45] those came together. This series of events led our officers to utilize all resources available for [4:50] their investigation from technology, air support, canine, METTAC, key APD units, DPS, Travis County Sheriff's [4:58] Office, and Maynard PD. And officers, again, going door to door. From the very beginning, APD and our [5:03] public safety partners were committed and focused on public safety and protecting the public. Again, I want to [5:07] thank my partners here with fire and EMS. Couldn't get through these things without them. We'd like to also [5:13] thank the community for following up on those alert messages. Like the mayor said, it's imperative that people [5:17] take those messages seriously and they adhere to what those messages state. Again, anyone with information to [5:23] this related to these incidents, please call our aggravated assault unit, 512-974-5177. You can also submit those [5:31] tips anonymously through Capitol Area Crime Stoppers. I want to thank everybody for being here. Again, this is a serious [5:37] situation and two people have been apprehended and we'll let the justice system at this point, you know, take take over. I'll go ahead and [5:45] turn it over to Chief Rob Lukritz. Good afternoon. Rob Lukritz, Chief of Austin Travis County EMS. Again, our thoughts and [5:55] prayers go out to everyone that was involved in this incident. Today, beginning slightly before 9 AM, Austin Travis County EMS [6:01] responded alongside our public safety partners at the Austin Fire Department and the Austin Police Department to four [6:07] different shootings across the city in various locations throughout the day. Of those four patients that we treated, three [6:15] sustained non-life threatening injuries and one sustained critical injuries and was treated with whole blood on the scene before being [6:22] transported to a local trauma center. All four victims were transported to local trauma centers. In response, Austin Travis County EMS worked with our public safety partners to step up our [6:33] CAS Med program and embed additional paramedics with the Austin Police Department as well as our tactical paramedics [6:38] to assist in the operations throughout the day with the Austin Police Department. I just again want to highlight what was mentioned earlier. [6:49] This truly is an example of how all of our public safety here in the city of Austin come together. The partnership between the Austin Police Department, [6:55] Austin Travis County EMS and the Austin Fire Department is absolutely unparalleled and is a prime example of why Austin continues to be safe. [7:03] And again, we're acknowledging all of our staff and team members who worked throughout the day today and we're true heroes throughout the response. [7:11] With that, I'll turn it back to Mayor Watson. [7:13] We're available for questions, so if you all want to ask questions, please. [7:19] What all happened? [7:22] What all happened? [7:22] I mean, obviously there's been multiple shootings, but again, what do we got? [7:25] So we had, again, we had shootings, robberies, car, auto robberies, and then we had the shots that took effect on people. So four people were shot, total four people. [7:35] We had buildings, apartments that were shot into, two fire stations, two separate fire stations that were fired into. A fire truck was struck while the fire personnel were right behind that truck. [7:45] We had two individuals at this point that were going and robbing cars and then started firing shots at people. [7:53] We saw, had one pole cam that was up that actually captured one of the shootings in front of a store where two people were shot. [7:59] A woman sitting there, you know, standing there talking to someone and they drive by and they shoot out their window and striking her. [8:05] And so a motive, I don't know what a motive is. I don't know what motive would drive anybody to come and drive around senselessly in the city and multiple parts of the city shooting. [8:14] And so at this point, Maynor PD, Travis County Sheriff's Office, they went toward Maynor. [8:19] They made that traffic stop on that vehicle that we put out, the white Kia, and they made the stop. [8:25] The subjects got out and ran and they were apprehended. Two of the people were apprehended. [8:30] At this point, there may be a third involved, so that scene is still being handled for public safety measures to ensure that we get that third person. [8:38] But the two that we had on video, the two we were looking for, are in custody. [8:42] You said maybe a third person. Just want to confirm, is there a third person? [8:46] There was a third person that the Travis County Sheriff's Office said ran from the car. [8:51] Now, where this person became involved, we're not sure of that, but we do know the two that we were looking for have been apprehended. [8:57] And then you mentioned the shooting at the fire stations and truck being hurt. [9:01] I mean, coming from a first responder perspective, what does that mean for all of the agencies involved in this when, [9:08] you know, another first responding unit like Austin Fire gets involved in this manner? [9:13] Well, I think it's it's it's I think it touches everybody. [9:16] And it doesn't matter if it was a car dealership that that was struck or it happened to be a fire station or a police station. [9:21] These are dangerous kids out causing havoc in the city and they had to be taken into custody and they were safely. [9:28] Do we know if it was a shooter doing shooting and maybe one driving? [9:35] We've heard that they were in multiple different cars. [9:37] Were these like they they just went from car to car? [9:40] So I want you to remember talking about the complexity of this. Right. [9:43] And so when that investigation is still continuing, they've just been apprehended that those are the things that will be determined. [9:48] You speak a little bit on the timing of when it was realized that multiple of these incidents were correlated with each other, [9:54] like a timeline was around midnight, was around like four a.m. this morning. [9:57] Just talk to me about when exactly. Yeah. [9:59] So once all those calls came in on Saturday, they stopped for a while. [10:03] And so enough, the kid if they at that point decided to go get some sleep, what happened? [10:06] But then it picked back up at eight after eight o'clock this morning when a man walking his dog was struck in the back with gunfire. [10:15] So that's when and that description of that car came up. [10:18] And so at that point, it's pulling it all back together of are all these things in the randomness of it is all of this, you know, related. [10:26] You mentioned 8 a.m. for that. [10:29] 847 this morning. Got it. [10:31] Just in terms of like public safety messaging. [10:33] I mean, just talking about like, I guess, when the thought process behind when it was when to distribute those messaging. [10:39] I think I remember the key alert was around 11 or so a.m. this morning. [10:42] Just tell me about between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. [10:44] What was going on in these? Well, once again, it's still trying to figure out, you know, [10:48] trying to figure out what car they've been abandoned and then they've stolen another car. [10:53] And so we found one car and it was abandoned. [10:55] So at that point, we're calling in our crime scene unit to come take that car and start looking for prints, looking for, you know, [11:01] the cartridges, all of those things inside that car. [11:04] And then what car did they now in? What car are they now in? [11:07] And so at that point, it's just bringing all of that intel together to move forward with the investigation. [11:11] Talk a little bit about, like, license plate readers. [11:13] I know Austin has taken a stance against that for maybe not using them. [11:17] What LPR has been helpful in this scenario? [11:19] And I know Manor uses LPRs. [11:21] Did they use it? Was that helpful in this scenario as well? [11:24] Well, I can tell you, I think that conversation, you know, we have the Trust Act, you know, [11:27] setting guidelines on where we are with our technology. [11:29] And I think that the conversation is ripe to have. [11:31] What could that have helped? [11:32] Yes, it could have helped. [11:33] And so I think as we we move forward and we can start having those conversations around what that Trust Act, [11:38] those those parameters, I think I'm absolutely open to having those conversations. [11:42] And from my one second, from my perspective, when we talk about Austin being safe and people feeling safe in Austin, [11:51] we need to make sure that our law enforcement has the tools that they need so that we can keep people safe. [11:57] You know, I'm not going to speculate about whether or not you might piece things together sooner. [12:05] Things might, in this instance, but we certainly know that probably, well, what I'll say is this, [12:13] probably having license plate readers would have been helpful under these circumstances. [12:18] So we need to make sure that when we're trying to reach balance and perspective, we take all of that into account. [12:25] So there was the game. [12:27] Can we come over here first? [12:28] Yes. [12:29] So, Archie, do we, what do we know about the third self-spect, any idea of, like, who we're looking for, age, and, like, any kind of idea of, like, relation? [12:35] We don't. [12:36] Like I said, the Travis County Sheriff's Office, once they stopped that car, three people ran from the car, similar young Hispanic males. [12:44] So at this point, we don't know what that third subject's involvement was. [12:47] We do know that the information we had, the videos that we had, we have those two subjects in custody. [12:54] Severely injured and transported and was in surgery. [13:01] I was shown an image from his front porch, a very bloody image. [13:07] But then other neighbors said, no, the shooting happened over at the park, you know, just right, right across the way. [13:12] Do we know if he was shot one place and maybe transported himself or to his house, or do we know anything about that? [13:19] I have the address on Ballydon is where that shooting took place. [13:25] Just real quick, for the ten different, it was ten, right, for the ten different incidents, could you just tell the locations for each one real quick so we have, like, on that? [13:33] Anna, do we want to give this paper to them? [13:36] We're going to wait. [13:38] Share that information. [13:40] It might be tomorrow or later this afternoon that we give them. [13:41] Okay. [13:42] Yeah, let's wait on that. [13:43] We've got it all. [13:44] There were twelve different incidents as far as where shots were fired. [13:48] So we'll give that information to you all, but twelve separate incidents. [13:51] Can you tell, like, I guess, like, the type of places? [13:53] Like you said, we know a fire station. [13:54] Yeah, we know a fire station, an apartment building, a couple apartment buildings, some homes that were shot along the way. [13:59] I believe as they were shooting at the fire station, they kind of, you know, started shooting before they even got to the fire station, hitting a couple of homes. [14:06] And, again, those officers were doing their due diligence and going door to door, ensuring that no one was struck inside those homes. [14:12] All right, you guys, we have one final question, please. [14:14] Given the complexity and the randomness of the spree of shootings, what do you make of APD's response time? [14:21] And do you believe that this was quickly resolved for police, given all that went into this? [14:26] And what do you want the public to know now? [14:28] Well, what I want, do I think that absolutely the police department did a fantastic job of, one, connecting these. [14:34] You know, you have shots fired, you have vehicles that are being stolen, then you have people that are actually shrugged beginning this morning. [14:40] And so piecing all of that together, again, was complex, but it was done. [14:44] And it was done with the technology that we do have, right? [14:47] And so when you think about cameras, could that have helped? Yes, it absolutely could have. [14:51] But we got these two individuals, and we took them into custody. [14:55] You know, Maynard PD and the Travis County Sheriff's Office took them into custody safely. [14:59] They're not injured. [15:00] And so I think that's a success. [15:02] But, unfortunately, we have four people that were struck by gunfire, and we have one that's critical. [15:07] And so that is something that we need to take seriously. [15:10] And we need to take seriously the fact that we've got two juveniles, 15 and 17, running around with guns, you know, creating this havoc. [15:17] Is that part of the investigation? [15:18] What's that? [15:20] How they got the firearms? [15:21] Yeah. [15:22] So the firearms were stolen. [15:23] We know that they stole them. [15:24] And this was a 15-year-old that stole the gun. [15:26] But the 17-year-old had a warrant on him from stealing a separate weapon from that same store. [15:31] Plus, where does the investigation go from here? [15:33] At this point, we're going to get the, you know, they are juveniles. [15:36] And so at this point, we're not interviewing them. [15:39] But they're going to be taken to juvenile detention. [15:42] And the investigation still continues. [15:43] Do you have any messages? [15:44] Thank you. [15:45] Thank you all very much. [15:46] Thank you. [15:48] Thank you for watching. 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