https://www.foxnews.com/us/austin-shooting-leaves-3-dead-texas Manhunt underway after 3 killed in Austin, Texas
Authorities claim suspect has been identified; 'Fox News Live' host Arthel Neville has the latest
A massive multi-agency manhunt including the FBI and U.S. Marshals was launched in Austin on Sunday for an armed suspect wanted for killing at least three people near an apartment complex.
Austin police said that the three lifeless bodies were all adults, including two Hispanic females, and one Black male. They said they believe the suspect is Stephen Nicholas Broderick, who is possibly a former law enforcement officer charged with sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl last summer.
Austin's KXAN, citing an arrest affidavit, reported last June that the Travis County Sheriff's Office detective was on administrative leave following an arrest for allegations of sexual assault.
U.S. Marshals arrested Broderick on June 6, three days after the teen accused him of assaulting her in a home in Elgin, Texas, the Austin American-Statements reported.
Broderick reportedly spent 16 days in jail before he posted a reduced bail amount of $50,000. Court records reviewed by the paper indicate his wife filed for divorce and obtained an order of protection after his arrest.
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The Austin Police Department said the suspect was still at large as of approximately 2:30 p.m. local time and is considered armed and dangerous.
Police urged everyone nearby to shelter in place and report suspicious activity. The order was later lifted, but the suspect still remained at large. FBI agents on the scene were classifying the hunt as a "fugitive search."
"We are concerned he might possibly take a hostage and be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave," Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said during a news conference earlier Sunday afternoon.
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Chacon said Broderick knew the victims but didn't elaborate on how or provide a motive for the shootings. He also said a child was involved but that the child has been located and is safe.
EMS spokeswoman Capt. Christa Stedman said the first 911 call came in at 11:44 a.m. and that three adults were fatally shot. She said she did not know the exact location where they were killed but that EMS responded to an area that included a strip mall and several retail stores with a large apartment complex behind it.
"#ATCEMS has 15 response assets on-scene. No reports of other patients at this time. All assets staged [and] prepared to enter into the immediate incident location," Austin-Travis County EMS wrote on Twitter earlier.
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The scene following a deadly shooting in Austin on April 18, 2021. Credit Fox 7 News
Images from the scene showed a large presence of emergency responders, including dozens of police cars. There were also several ambulances and two SWAT trucks at the scene, and two police helicopters as well as a drone overhead.
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The area includes a strip mall containing several retail stores and large apartment complexes situated near wooded rolling hills.
Josh Katzowitz, who had been shopping at the nearby Trader Joe's, said police and ambulances came "pouring in" to the area as he was leaving. He didn't hear any shooting.
"The cops had their guns out," he said. "Some had pistols, some had rifles and they were strapping on bulletproof vests. There were all of a sudden ambulances, sirens and police cars There were cops coming from everywhere."
Police said a portion of a nearby highway would be shut down in both directions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.