Texas shooting spree: Young mother and handyman named among six victims in Austin
Shane James, 34, arrested on capital murder charges on Tuesday
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Your support makes all the difference.A complex investigation has been launched after six people were found dead across two major cities in Texas.
Suspect Shane James, 34, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with capital murder charges in connection with the deaths of four people in Austin. James is also accused of killing his parents Phyllis James, 55, and Shane Matthew James Sr, 56 at their home in San Antonio.
Police identified two of the victims killed in Austin as 24-year-old Sabrina Rahman and Emmanuel Pop Ba, 32.
A friend of Pop Ba told The Austin-American Stateman that he was sitting inside a car when the gunman opened fire on him. Pop Ba was helping that friend move to their new home.
Rahman’s uncle Marshall Hussain also told the outlet that his niece was struck by gunfire as she was walking her baby in a stroller.
“She did her last act to push the child away,” Mr Hussain said.
James, who has a history of mental health issues and was discharged from the Army due to a domestic violence incident, was taken into custody after crashing his car while fleeing police following a shootout with an officer who suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
WATCH: Man, woman killed in South Austin: APD
IN PICTURES: Killing spree left six people dead in San Antonio and Austin
A timeline of the attacks in Austin and San Antonio
Chief Henderson provided a timeline, saying an Austin Independent School District police officer was shot and injured at about 10.45am Tuesday.
Then about noon, a man and a woman were found dead in a home. Another shooting happened shortly before 5pm when a male cyclist suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police responding around 7 p.m. to a call of a burglary in progress at another home later found two people dead there.
Henderson didn’t say how the four people died.
During the last call, an Austin police officer saw a man in the back yard. The man shot at the officer and the officer returned fire, Henderson said. The officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital. The officer was listed in stable condition.
Police said the man, who was not hit, drove away and police pursued him. He crashed at about 7.15pm at a highway intersection and was taken into custody.
The man had a gun, Henderson said.
Suspect identified after six people killed in multi-city Texas ‘shooting spree’
A suspect has been named in a series of apparent murders and shootings that left six people dead and three others injured across two major Texas cities.
Shane James, 34, is facing capital murder charges, police said.
He was linked to the deaths of four people on Tuesday in Austin, where two police officers and a cyclist were shot and injured. Authorities said during a press conference before Mr James was identified that the suspect had an outstanding assault and family violence warrant.
Read more:
Suspect identified after six people killed in multi-city Texas ‘shooting spree’
Shane James, 34, was arrested in Austin after crashing a car
Bail reform organization bailed James out in 2022
After it emerged on Wednesday that the suspect in the shooting spree that left six people dead was bonded out of jail by The Texas Organizing Project, the organization issued a statement addressing the $300 that was posted on James’ behalf
“Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is profoundly saddened and deeply troubled by the recent tragic events involving Shane James,” the statement to KSAT read. “We condemn his most recent egregious acts, full stop. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time.”
The organization, which works for bail reform, said it was aware of “the broader implications” that the murders on Tuesday had for its bail program.
What we know about Texas shooting spree that left six dead miles apart
An eight-hour rampage in Texas at different crime scenes in the cities of San Antonio and Austin has left six people dead, including the suspect’s parents.
The Austin Police Department identified the suspect in the attacks as 34-year-old Shane James, who has a history of mental health illness and was previously arrested for attacking several family members. James, who is currently in custody, now faces charges of capital murders in connection with the daylong violence on Tuesday.
The dead were found in several homes miles from each other and authorities have yet to provide a motive in the killings.
Read more:
What we know about Texas shooting spree that left six dead miles apart
Authorities in Texas said that six bodies were found at three different crime scenes in San Antonio and Austin. A link between the crimes was not established until the suspect, 34-year-old Shane James, was arrested on Tuesday night
Suspect believed to have attacked parents before murders in Austin, police say
In Bexar County, about 80 miles south from Austin, Sheriff Javier Salazar said his agency got a call from Austin police at about 7.45pm about a shooting.
He said the man they had in custody had links to a residence east of San Antonio, where two officers were sent.
“I believe they saw water coming out of the residence, appearing as if something was leaking inside,” Sheriff Salazar said.
Mr James’ parents Phyllis James, 55, and Shane Matthew James Sr, 56, were found dead in the house.
Mr Salazar said that the San Antonio crime scene was “grisly” but did not elaborate on how the victims were killed.
“Nobody deserves to die the way we believe that they died,” the sheriff said. “This is a very quiet family. The gentleman that lives in the home, he’s very involved in the community, in the neighbourhood watch.”
Sheriff Salazar said it’s believed the deaths in the home happened sometime between 10pm on Monday, when a sibling of Mr James last spoke with their parents, and 9am on Tuesday, when a neighbour noticed James’ vehicle was not in the driveway.
Sheriff Salazar has asked neighbours to check their doorbell cameras to help authorities establish a more clear timeline.
Austin school district officer shot is named
Sergeant Val Barnes, who has been with the district’s police force for nearly 30 decades, is expected to recover.
Sgt Barnes was shot in the leg at around 10.40am on Tuesday near Northeast Early College High School.
He has already been released from the hospital.
“We’re grateful that Sergeant Val Barnes is now recovering at home,” Interim Superintendent Matias Segura in a statement to The Austin-American Stateman. “His swift response was key in keeping our campuses safe.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre addresses recent shootings
During a briefing on Thursday, Ms Pierre said that President Biden has ordered the newly established office of gun violence prevention to monitor the situation in Las Vegas, where a gunman killed three people yesterday before he was fatally shot by police.
“I also want to note that less than 24 hours ago I stood at this same podium as we mourn the six lives lost in San Antonio. And here we are again today. When the President talks about ending the epidemic of gun violence. This is what he’s talking about,” Ms Pierre said.
“From Las Vegas, to Texas to Memphis to Maine. When will be When will it be enough? When will it be enough? We have faces and we cannot continue to live like this.
“As the President said, Republican lawmakers must join Democrats in Congress to advance common-sense measures to protect Americans from gun violence. Literally, every day, every day we wait, becomes another day too late.”