Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Travis County, Texas – The suspect responsible for the brutal killing of six individuals and the injury of several others in Texas has been identified by the police. Shane James, a 34-year-old man, was booked into Travis County Jail at around 2:30 a.m. on charges of capital murder of multiple persons, according to jail records. He is currently being held without bond.
The incidents unfolded on Tuesday, when a series of violent events occurred in Austin and Bexar County. Authorities have not yet determined the relationship, if any, between the victims and the suspect. “The nature of the relationship, if any, between the victims and the suspect is unknown,” stated Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson on Tuesday.
The first incident took place around 10:45 a.m., outside Northeast Early College High School, where an Austin Independent School District police officer was shot in the leg by James. Fortunately, the officer is expected to make a full recovery. Shortly after, at approximately 11:45 a.m., gunshots were reported at the 7300 block of Shadywood Drive, resulting in the discovery of a deceased man and woman. Their identities have not yet been released.
Another shooting occurred just before 5 p.m. when a cyclist was shot on West Slaughter Lane. Although the extent of the cyclist’s injuries remains undisclosed, they are not believed to be life-threatening. At around 6:50 p.m., a burglary was reported in the 5300 block of Austral Loop. When an officer arrived at the scene, James began firing shots, striking the officer multiple times. The officer returned fire, but James managed to flee the area in a vehicle.
A pursuit ensued, and approximately 15 minutes later, James was apprehended after crashing at the intersection of South Highway 45 and FM 1826. Upon searching the home on Austral Loop, authorities discovered two additional victims, both deceased. Their identities have yet to be revealed.
The officer shot by James was transported to a hospital, where he is currently in stable condition. Following the shootings, a connection was established between the suspect and a residence in East Bexar County, leading authorities to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. The house is reportedly owned by a man named Shane James, who may be the suspect’s father.
Sheriff Javier Salazar revealed that when deputies arrived at the residence, they found water flowing from the home and received no response upon attempting to make contact. Forced entry was necessary, and inside, two individuals in their 50s were discovered deceased in a small room. It is unclear whether they were shot, and the cause of death is currently under investigation.
The investigation into these horrific events, which are believed to have originated in Bexar County, is ongoing. Authorities are diligently working to determine the motive behind the attacks and whether they were random acts of violence.