Texas police explain why 'there was no indication' public was at risk during day-long shooting spree
AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — One week after a deadly Texas shooting spree left six dead and three others injured, police are revealing more about the investigation.
At Austin Police Department headquarters Tuesday, officials explained why the public wasn't alerted about an armed suspect making random attacks until everything was already over.
In a lengthy news conference, a half dozen Austin Police Department detectives and investigators laid out a detailed timeline of everything that happenedthe day of the shootings, from the first shooting happening around 10:45 a.m. in Northeast Austin and the last shooting happening around 6:45 p.m. in Southwest Austin.
Police reiterated that just as they were beginning to connect the dots and work on releasing more information to the public, the final shootings, police chase and arrest happened, bringing the day-long string of violence to an end. Investigators explained that as the day progressed the suspect and suspect vehicle descriptions were constantly evolving leading them to believe these were separate incidents.
Shane James is charged with four counts of capital murder and three additional charges for shooting and injuring two police officers and a bicyclist.
When he was found, he had no phone on him, so there’s approximately six hours of time that are unaccounted for," said Sgt. Nathan Sexton with the Austin Police Homicide Unit.Police say they don't know a motive for the seemingly random acts of violence since James chose not to speak to them following his arrest.
"While it might have seemed it was obvious, there was no indication – based on the information and intelligence that we had at the time the incidents were unfolding – that they were related," said Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson.
APD said they worked more than 50 violent crime calls that day including shootings, stabbings and robberies, most of which were not connected. After the first shooting of an Austin ISD police officer outside of Northeast Early College High School, they had three conflicting suspect descriptions and two vehicle descriptions.
"At the time of the initial incident there was no indication that there was an ongoing threat to the public, and as stated, it wasn’t until hours later that we were able to tie that same suspect to that incident," Henderson said.
An affidavit filed with the district clerk's office Tuesday revealed the injured Austin ISD Police Officer was able to confirm the person who shot him was the same person seen on security cameras shooting and killing a man and young mother on Shadywood Drive, but police said that confirmation was not made until late in the evening after the other shootings had already happened.
Henderson said throughout the day thresholds were not met to issue any sort of city or statewide alert through the Texas Department of Public Safety, but they are working with county and school district law enforcement to improve future communication.
"Please understand, since this incident has occurred we have already had meetings with Sally Hernandez, Travis County Sheriff's Office also with Chief Sneed ... collaborating on how if there is something to put out, which is the appropriate entity and at what time," Henderson said.
Henderson extended her condolences to the victims and their families and praised the quick and hard work of her department's officers, commending police response times to the several 911 calls they got as the crimes were unfolding. Henderson said she did not believe staffing challenges had a negative impact on their response.
In these incidents, it does not appear so. We are still in the midst of a staffing crisis but as I said, the professional nature of our police officers that work here, they power through, even though we are at critical staffing levels," she said, adding police responded to the double homicide on Austral Loop in less than two minutes.The first officer on scene was a backfill officer specifically reassigned to help with patrol while staffing levels were low.
On Tuesday, police said they had connected a gun belonging to James to all of the shootings. According to police, the firearm was purchased in July 2022 from a private individual.
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