Hunted ‘gunman’ is former detective
A manhunt is underway for a former law enforcement officer who allegedly opened fire at an apartment complex in Austin, Texas, yesterday, killing three people before fleeing.
Police identified the suspect as Stephen Nicholas Broderick, 41, a former detective at the Travis County Sheriff’s Office who is considered armed and dangerous. A team of federal, state and local authorities is looking for him, interim Austin police chief Joseph Chacon said.
Broderick knew and targeted his victims, Chacon said, and authorities are concerned that he ‘‘might possibly take a hostage’’ while the search is underway.
‘‘Obviously, this is a tragedy,’’ Chacon said at a news conference. ‘‘We have people who have lost their lives out here. We are going to be doing our very best to conduct the best investigation that we can and also to get this person into custody as quickly as possible and, hopefully, with no further loss of life.’’
At the sheriff’s office in Travis County, Broderick investigated property crimes until he was arrested in June and charged with sexually assaulting a child, said Kristen Dark, a spokeswoman for the department. He was placed on administrative leave and later resigned.
The shooting took place in northwestern Austin, about 16km from the Capitol, and Chacon urged nearby residents to seek shelter and call police if they see Broderick, described as a 170cm Black man last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, sunglasses and a baseball cap.
Authorities do not know the direction he travelled or whether he fled on foot or by vehicle. Helicopters were searching for him, as were agents from the FBI and the US Marshals Service, Chacon said.
Police initially described it in a statement as ‘‘an active shooting incident,’’ before saying an hour later that it appeared to be ‘‘a domestic situation’’ and that there was ‘‘no risk to the general public.’’
But during the news conference, Chacon and others described a volatile situation.
‘‘I would say that the danger still remains high at this point,’’ Chacon said, ‘‘and we want to make sure that people understand that.’’
Authorities did not identify the three victims, who were pronounced dead at the scene, but said two were Hispanic women and one was a Black man. All were adults, and Chacon said a child is safe and with police.
Officials said no other injuries had been reported.
Reporters on the ground captured footage of a massive law enforcement presence. Ambulances lined up outside a shopping center, their lights flashing.
Police shut down a road, with patrol cars and police tape blocking it off.
Helicopters circled overhead, and several officers wore heavy protective armour.