South Austin Random Shootings Probed

Austin police said three teenage suspects were arrested after a weekend string of 12 shootings, stolen vehicles and related crimes across South and East Austin left four people injured. The shootings unfolded between Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, according to Austin Police Department statements and public briefings. Police initially told residents the attacks appeared random and asked the public to watch for a dark Hyundai Sonata with a broken passenger window. By Monday, investigators said the cases included both random and targeted shootings, with some victims known to the suspects and others appearing to have no connection. ### How many shootings are police now tying together? Austin police said they are investigating 12 shooting incidents tied to the spree. Four people were injured, and the gunfire also hit five vehicles, four residences, two fire stations and three fire department vehicles, according to the department’s May 18 update. Chief Lisa Davis said Sunday that one victim had serious injuries and three others had minor injuries. (austintexas.gov) KVUE, citing police, reported one of the seriously injured victims was in critical condition. ### What do police say started the weekend violence? Police said the chain of events began at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, when a firearm was reported stolen from Central Texas Gunworks on West Ben White Boulevard. (austintexas.gov) Surveillance footage linked that theft to a dark Hyundai Sonata that had earlier been reported stolen from the Social Apartments on East Oltorf Drive, according to APD’s timeline. (houstonpublicmedia.org) The first confirmed shooting in the timeline came at 3:58 p.m. Saturday at a trailer residence on Yucca Drive in Southeast Austin, police said. Over the next several hours, investigators said suspects fired at apartment complexes, homes, a parked car near LBJ High School and an Austin fire station in the Colony Park area. ### Where did the shootings happen? South and Southeast Austin accounted for much of the activity, though police also tied incidents to East Austin and later to Manor, where the suspects were pursued and detained. (kut.org) A shelter-in-place alert issued Sunday afternoon covered a broad South Austin area bordered by Slaughter Lane, McKinney Falls Parkway, Ben White Boulevard and Escarpment Boulevard, officials said. Mayor Kirk Watson said Sunday that two of the shootings struck different fire stations, including one incident in which a fire truck was hit while fire personnel were nearby. Police also said some shootings hit apartment buildings, stores and private homes. ### Who is in custody? Austin police said three male suspects in their teens were taken into custody Sunday. On May 18, the department identified one of them as Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, 17, and said the other two suspects were ages 16 and 15. (houstonpublicmedia.org) Because the younger two are juveniles, police said Texas law limits what can be publicly released about them. (cbsnews.com) Manor police said the arrests followed a vehicle stop and chase Sunday evening. Davis said a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were first taken into custody after running from a car in Manor, and the third suspect was later detained after a large search involving nearly 200 officers, canine teams, SWAT, helicopter and drone support. (austintexas.gov) ### What charges are investigators considering? Cristian Fajardo Mondragon is expected to face multiple charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest and theft of a firearm, according to local reports citing law enforcement and APD. Police said additional charges could follow as investigators review surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence. (houstonpublicmedia.org) APD said Monday that formal charges were under review for all three suspects. The department also said at least five vehicles were stolen during the weekend violence, along with the firearm reported missing Saturday. ### What are police asking residents to do now? Austin police said the investigation remains active and asked anyone with information to contact the Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5177. (kvue.com) The department also said anonymous tips can be sent through Capital Area Crime Stoppers, which listed a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the initial public appeal. (spectrumlocalnews.com) The next public updates are expected to come through Austin Police Department case releases and court filings as prosecutors review charges against the three suspects. APD said Monday that investigators were continuing to examine evidence from the shootings, vehicle thefts and related crimes across the city. (austintexas.gov) (austintexas.gov)