Three people are shot dead in Austin with gunman remaining on the loose
FBI and US Marshals hunt for Austin detective who ‘shot dead two women and a man’ at apartment and was fired last year for ‘rape of 16-year-old girl’
- Joseph Chacon, Chief of Police, named suspect as Stephen Nicholas Broderick
- Sheriff’s Detective with same name on leave, facing charges of assaulting a child
- Helicopters, SWAT teams and FBI agents are now involved in a frenzied search
A sheriff’s detective has turned active shooter and killed three adults in Austin after being put on unpaid leave over child sex claims, as SWAT teams and FBI agents issued a shelter at home order amid fears the gunman could take a hostage.
Joseph Chacon, Chief of Police at Austin Police Deportment, named the ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect as 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick, who allegedly shot the trio at an apartment complex near The Arboretum in the north-west of the city in what officers called a ‘domestic situation’.
Police say a child was involved but is safely in custody.
A former Travis County Sheriff’s Detective also called Stephen Broderick was put on unpaid leave after he was charged with sexually assaulting a child in June last year.
And the local CBS affiliate is reporting that the gunman was the former detective, who had been charged with with first-degree felony child sex assault.
Police would not comment if the suspect in Sunday’s shooting was facing other criminal charges but told reporters he ‘might be former law enforcement’.
Helicopters, SWAT teams and FBI agents are now involved in a frenzied search while urging anyone who sees Broderick to call 911.
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Joseph Chacon, Chief of Police at Austin Police Deportment, named the ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect as 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick
Broderick, pictured left in an earlier photo, was arrested on June 6 by the U.S. Marshals Service and charged with sexual assault of a child. He was placed on administrative leave without pay and later resigned from Travis County Sheriff’s Office
Dozens of patrol cars rushed to the scene of a shooting in Austin Sunday along with heavily-armed SWAT teams in military fatigues
Shots were first reported Sunday in a 911 call at 11.42am CT, with Austin Police Department at 1pm confirming that the shooter was still active.
In a second release 40 minutes later, APD said the incident is believed to be a ‘domestic situation’ and suggested the gunman did not pose a risk to the wider public.
However, Austin Chief of Police Joseph Chacon later told reporters at a press conference that police were advising people to shelter at home over fears the shooter could ‘take a hostage’.
He said police were no longer treating the case as an active shooter incident but ‘danger remains high’.
Chief Chacon said police were on the scene four minutes after receiving reports that shots have been fired.
He identified the victims as two Hispanic women and one black man.
Describing the suspect, he said: ‘We think we know our suspect, Stephen Nicholas Broderick, 41.
‘We are concerned he might possibly take a hostage and be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave.’
He said Broderick is 5 feet, 7 inches (1.7 meters) tall and Black. He was wearing a gray hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball cap.
Chacon continued: ‘We don’t know if he’s on a vehicle or on foot. We are asking individuals to continue sheltering in place because this is still an active.’
Asked if the suspect was a former detective facing child sex charges also called Stephen Broderick, Chief Chacon refused to confirm this but said: ‘We do have some preliminary information that he might be prior law enforcement, but I don’t have that confirmed at this time.’
Broderick allegedly shot three people near The Arboretum in the north-west of the city in what officers called a ‘domestic situation’. Pictured are armored SWAT trucks at the scene
Chief Chacon said police were on the scene four minutes after receiving reports that shots have been fired. He identified the victims as two Hispanic women and one black man
Broderick allegedly shot the trio at an apartment complex near The Arboretum in the north-west of the city in what officers called a ‘domestic situation’
Also also said that a child was involved in Sunday’s incident but was unharmed and is now with police.
Broderick was arrested on June 6 by the U.S. Marshals Service and charged with sexual assault of a child. He was placed on administrative leave without pay and later resigned from Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest affidavit seen by the Austin American-Statesman said the child sex assault happened at a home in Elgin. The victim cried to her mother, who took the child for an examination and doctors confirmed the abuse.
The property crimes detective was booked into jail and spent 16 days behind bars prior to posting bail, which was set at $50,000.
Court and public records show that Broderick’s wife filed for a protective order and divorce shortly after her husband’s arrest.
Shots were first reported Sunday in a 911 call at 11.42am CT, with Austin Police Department at 1pm confirming that the shooter was still active
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
The Austin-Travis County EMS said three adults had been killed but it had not received reports of any other victims
The Austin-Travis County EMS said Sunday that three adults had been killed but it had not received reports of any other victims.
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.’
Austin Police Department tweeted at 1.40pm CT: ‘APD is currently on scene of an active shooting incident at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway.
‘All residents are advised to shelter in place and avoid the area. PIO en route. – PIO8.’
The department added 40 minutes later: ‘At this time the Great Hills Trail scene is still active. We are still asking residents to shelter in place and report suspicious activity.
‘While a suspect is still at large it appears this is a domestic situation that is isolated and there is no risk to the general public.’
EMS spokeswoman Capt. Christa Stedman said early Sunday afternoon that the first 911 call came in at 11.44am CT and that three adults were fatally shot
EMS spokeswoman Capt. Christa Stedman said early Sunday afternoon that the first 911 call came in at 11.44am CT.
Images from the scene showed a large presence of emergency responders.
Steadman said she did not know the exact location where the three people were killed.
She said they responded to an area that included a strip mall, several retail stores with a large apartment complex behind it.
Austin Police Department tweeted at 1.50pm ET: ‘APD is currently on scene of an active shooting incident at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway.’ The department added 40 minutes later that it was a ‘domestic situation’
