Austin Nightlife District Shooting: Three Dead, 14 Wounded, Federal Probe Ongoing
A late-night mass shooting early Sunday at a popular bar on West Sixth Street in downtown Austin left three people dead, including the suspected gunman, and 14 others wounded, police say. The violence erupted around 1:59 a.m. at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a lively entertainment district hotspot, as crowds were dispersing after a night out.
Officials say Austin-Travis County EMS and police officers were on the scene within 57 seconds of the initial call, a response speed that was widely credited with preventing further casualties. Of the 14 people taken to hospitals, three remained in critical condition early Sunday, according to authorities.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said officers responding to the shooting confronted the armed suspect and returned fire, killing him at the scene. The identities of the victims and the shooter have not been released.
Local leaders have described the early hours of March 1 as “tragic” and called for unity as investigators, including federal partners, work to piece together a motive and timeline.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones Releases Statement
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones released the following statement on March 1:
“I’m deeply saddened to hear of the mass shooting in Austin that killed and injured so many,” Mayor Jones said. “Let’s keep our neighbors to the north in our prayers, that those injured recover quickly and the families of the victims who were needlessly murdered are comforted. We must prevent such tragedies from happening through commonsense gun solutions. Thank you to the first responders who were at the scene and prevented further loss of life.”
The statement underscores a call for legislative action on gun violence while honoring the work of emergency responders.
Community and Law Enforcement Responses
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and police spokespeople praised the swift and coordinated actions of law enforcement and EMS personnel, saying their rapid intervention undoubtedly saved additional lives. Authorities are urging anyone looking for information on loved ones to contact the Austin Police Victim Services Unit.
Federal agencies, including the FBI, are also involved, and preliminary findings are being reviewed as part of an ongoing investigation.
This story is developing.
