A suspect is in custody in connection to multiple homicides and other attacks on Dec. 5 in Central Texas in which he allegedly killed six people and wounded three others, authorities said.
Those who died were found in two homes in Austin and another home east of San Antonio. The injured, who were shot, included two officers and a bicyclist. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, according to officials.
Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson said one man is believed to be responsible for all of the deaths and attacks that occurred throughout the day.
She said police “did not determine that these incidents were connected until the last incident occurred” Tuesday night.
Police Timeline
Ms. Henderson provided a timeline of the incidents.She said an Austin Independent School District police officer was shot in the leg at approximately 10:43 a.m. in a parking lot at Northeast Early College High School.
At about noon, police responded to a home after reports of gunfire. They found two people with signs of trauma. One of the victims was dead upon arrival, and the other died at a hospital.
Shortly before 5 p.m., another shooting occurred. A male cyclist suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
At approximately 7 p.m., police responded to an active burglary call at another home in Austin and found two people dead inside the house.
While responding to the last call, an Austin officer spotted a man in the backyard of the residence. The man fired shots at the officer, who then returned fire on the man.
The officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, police said.
The suspect, who was not hit, got in his vehicle and drove away.
The pursuit ended at about 7:15 p.m. when the man crashed his vehicle at the intersection of State Highway 45 and FM 1826 in southwest Austin.
Ms. Henderson said the suspect had a gun when police arrested him.
She said the officers were wearing body cameras and that the video would be released within 10 business days.
The relationship between the man and the victims, if any, was not immediately known, the interim chief said, but authorities believe a third double homicide in nearby Bexar County could also be connected to the incidents that took place in Austin.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters that Austin police contacted them and asked about a residence that may have been tied to the Mr. James. When authorities arrived to check on the home, they found a man and a woman dead inside.
“It’s a pretty grisly crime scene in there,” Mr. Salazar said.
“There are more than enough indicators that it is a double homicide, but we just don’t know cause of death at this point,” the sheriff continued.
Authorities did not release the names of the victims. The investigation is ongoing.
