Search Ongoing for Man Accused of Fatally Shooting 3 in Northwest Austin
A manhunt was underway Sunday for a former sheriff's deputy wanted in the fatal shooting of three people in Austin, as an official said it wasn't known if the suspect was still in the city.
Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said those who live near where the shooting happened late Sunday morning no longer had to shelter in place, but he said they should "remain vigilant." He said officials were transitioning the search for Stephen Broderick, 41, from that area to a "fugitive search."
First responders were called to an active shooting at 11:42 a.m. at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway, near U.S. Highway 183.
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Two women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene, Chacon said.
Chacon said the shooting did not happen in a building, but did not elaborate on where the scene was.
"The victims were all known to this suspect.," Chacon said. "At this point, we do not think this individual is out there targeting random people to shoot. That does not mean he is not dangerous."
He tentatively identified the shooter as Stephen Broderick. He was described as a 5-foot-7-inch Black man with average build and police said he had been wearing a gray hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball cap, and should be considered armed and dangerous. It was not clear whether he was on foot or in a vehicle.
Chacon said shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday that they had exhausted every effort to search the area of the shooting for Broderick, and that the shelter in place had been lifted.
He said that Broderick was a former deputy with the Travis County sheriff's office, which is based in Austin.
"If you have your neighbor's phone numbers, call and text them. Check on them and make sure that they're OK, Chacon said. "We are concerned that he might possibly take a hostage and may be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave."
Police said the shooting appeared to be targeted, but did not release additional details about how the suspected shooter knew the victims.
Chacon said preliminary information indicated Broderick might have been a prior law enforcement officer, but he did not provide additional details.
"Obviously this is a tragedy. We have people who have lost their lives out here," Chacon said. "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."
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said in a statement that Broderick had been arrested for sexual assault of a child last June and was released on $50,000 bond. He said that the district attorney's office on Sunday filed a motion to revoke that bond and is actively supporting law enforcement as they pursue Broderick.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Kristen Dark tells the Austin American-Statesman that Broderick, a property crimes detective, resigned after the arrest.
The newspaper also reports that Broderick's wife filed for a protective order and divorce shortly after his arrest.
Chacon said Broderick is suspected in the killing of two Hispanic women and one Black man. He said Broderick knew the victims but didn't elaborate on how or provide a motive for the shootings. Chacon also said a child was involved but that the child has been located and is safe.
The shooting took place in the Arboretum area, a popular shopping destination with numerous retail stores and apartment complexes situated near wooded rolling hills.
Brenda Torres said she was driving by when she saw a little boy flag down a car and a Black man lying facedown on the ground.
"I saw the little boy point down the street," Torres said. "There was someone lying on the ground. I thought someone had just fallen down or something. As my light turns green and I'm driving, I see cop car after cop car after cop car rushing toward where I just was."
Images from the scene showed a large presence of emergency responders, including dozens of police cars. There are also several ambulances and two SWAT trucks at the scene, and two police helicopters.
Josh Katzowitz, who had been shopping at the nearby Trader Joe's, said police and ambulances came "pouring in" to the area as he was leaving. He didn't hear any shooting.
"The cops had their guns out," he said. "Some had pistols, some had rifles and they were strapping on bulletproof vests. There were all of a sudden ambulances, sirens and police cars There were cops coming from everywhere."
Austin-Travis County EMS Commander Mike Benavides alerted people in a tweet that any 911 calls for medical response in the immediate vicinity would be handled in an alternate response model other than an ambulance.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area, and both directions of Loop 360 from Spicewood Springs to US 183 were shut down.
Anyone who sees the suspect is asked to call 911. Information about the shooting can be reported to the Austin Police Department at 512-974-8477, or email homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. Tips may also be made through the Crime Stoppers app or by calling 512-472-8477. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
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Search Ongoing for Man Accused of Fatally Shooting 3 in Northwest Austin - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
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