On Saturday, June 12 at around 1am, the police department at Austin, Texas recorded one of the most violent shootings that the city has ever witnessed. The shooting occurred along 6th street, a popular neighborhood known for its nightlife, bars and restaurant. At the time of the incident, the street was barricaded to prevent vehicle traffic. After the first 911 call at 1.24am, officers from the Austin police department were dispatched quickly to the scene of the shooting.
There was chaos and difficulty in getting the ambulances to the wounded because of the crowd so the officers had to drive them to the hospital. Out of the fourteen people who were wounded, one of them was a 25-year-old who succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital and died on Sunday. Officers have identified him as Douglas John Kantor who was a product manager in the IT department at Ford. He was on a vacation from New York City.
One of the two people suspected to have been involved in this shooting has been arrested by Austin police and the Lone star Fugitive Task Force. The identity of the suspect however remains unknown. From the surveillance video, it appeared to be an isolated incident resulting from a brawl in which those wounded were innocent bystanders. investigations are still being made however to ensure that the other suspect is apprehended and get to the root of the shooting.
In a statement to the people, Austin’s Mayor Steve Adler thanked the law enforcement officers and emergency responders for their quick response to the scene of the shooting. He also spoke about the rise in gun violence in the area and the preventive measures soon to be implemented by the police in combating violence. He made it clear that “greater access to firearms does not equal greater public safety.”
The White house spokesperson, Ike Hajinazarian and Austin City council member Ann Kitchen also reiterated the need for gun reforms in a bid to prevent the reckless endangerment of lives caused by gun violence. Allison Alter, another councilmember of Austin city, has called on legislators to make gun legislation a national priority.
Texas governor, Greg Abbot has assured the public that the Texas police department is working tirelessly with the Austin police department to ensure that those responsible are caught. Mayors of other cities have also commended the efforts of the interim chief police of Austin department. They also pledged their support as the city of Austin grieves over this senseless violence.
The mass shooting has reopened conversations about the need for safety and it is up to the legislators and police department to allay the fears of the people. Detectives are however asking anyone with helpful information of the incident to come forward or call the APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS.