At least three people were killed and 14 others were injured Sunday morning after a man opened fire at a bar in Austin, Texas, police said.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, officers responded to a report of a male suspect shooting at the city’s Beer Garden in Buford. As officers arrived, the suspect fired shots at them, and they returned fire, killing the suspect, Davis said.
Buford is in the downtown area, just 2 miles from the heart of the University of Texas at Austin campus and less than a mile from the Texas Capitol Building.
confirmed that the shooting claimed the lives of three people.
The head of the county’s emergency medical services, Robert Luckritz, confirmed that the shooting claimed the lives of three people. Another 14 people were taken to hospitals, three of whom were in critical condition, he said.
According to Luckritz, paramedics were already deployed to the entertainment district at the time of the shooting.
“We received the call at 1:59 a.m. and within 57 seconds the first paramedics and officers were actively treating patients,” he said.
Police did not provide additional details, citing the preliminary nature of the investigation and said an update would be provided later Sunday.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson credited both police and paramedics for responding quickly after the first reports of shootings were received.
“I want to say … I’m very grateful for the speed with which our public safety officers responded to this,” Watson said. “I don’t think there’s any question who saved lives.”
