Shooting in Austin Leaves 3 Dead, Suspect Identified as Former Detective Charged With Sexual Assault

Stephen Broderick. Austin Police Department

Three people have died following a shooting over what appears to be a domestic incident in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, said officials, while police said a suspect is still at large.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services wrote on Twitter. No other patients “have been reported or located at this time.”

Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon later identified 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick, a black male, as the suspect in the case. Broderick, who is at large, is described as having a medium build and 5 foot, 7 inches.

“Obviously this is a tragedy. We have people who have lost their lives here,” Chacon said in a news conference. “We’ll do our best … to get this person in custody … and hopefully with no more loss of life.”

Broderick, according to local reports is a former Travis County Sheriff’s detective. He was previously charged with sexual assault of a child and posted bail last year.

Police said the shooting was reported around noon at an apartment complex near the Great Hills Plaza and The Arboretum shopping area in northwestern Austin.

“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,” the Austin Police Department said in a statement.

Authorities had called on people in the area to shelter in place.

The identities of the victims were not disclosed. Authorities have said that they were all known to the suspect.

“So at this point, we do not think that this individual is out targeting random people to shoot them,” they said. “That does not mean he is not dangerous. He still, he is still at large. We do think that he is armed and he is very much dangerous.”

No other casualties “have been reported or located at this time,” Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services also wrote.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler wrote on Twitter that the location of the shooting was specifically the Arboretum Oaks Apartments at 9617 Great Hills Trails.