Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said officers responded at about 2:15 p.m. to the Target at 8601 Research Boulevard, where three people were found shot in the parking lot. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third was taken to a local hospital but later died, according to Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz. A fourth person was treated for minor injuries unrelated to the shooting.
Davis said the suspect, a 32-year-old man whose name has not been released, stole a car from the parking lot and fled. He later crashed the vehicle and allegedly took another car from an auto dealership.
Police located the man in the 2400 block of La Costa Court in South Austin, where officers used a Taser before taking him into custody. Davis stated the suspect has a history of mental health issues and has previously been placed in emergency detention.
The motive for the shooting, which occurred outside the store, remains unclear. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims.
Police urged the public to avoid the area near Target. The 8000 block of the southbound MoPac frontage road between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane was closed, though the main northbound and southbound lanes of MoPac remained open. Vehicles left in the Target parking lot will be held until the investigation concludes, police said.
