Three patients remain in critical condition, and one person is expected to be taken off life support, Police Chief Lisa Davis said.
AUSTIN, Texas —
Two days after a mass shooting in Downtown Austin, city and federal officials say they are still working to determine why a gunman opened fire on West Sixth Street, killing two people and injuring more than a dozen others.
Officials identified the two people killed as 19-year-old Ryder Harrington and 21-year-old Savitha Shan.
Three patients remain in critical condition, and one person is expected to be taken off life support, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said. A total of 14 patients were located at the scene and taken to nearby hospitals. At least four of the 14 patients have been released from local hospitals, according to St. David’s HealthCare.
Chief Davis said investigators are in the early stages of a complex case that spans a large crime scene and involves extensive physical and digital evidence. Authorities are now reviewing information from roughly 150 witnesses as they work to understand what led up to the shooting.
Davis said that because Austin police are also investigating an officer-involved shooting related to the incident, they plan to release additional information later this week, including body camera footage on Thursday.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran said the FBI is examining the suspect’s criminal history and background, which will also be addressed in that upcoming update. Doran said federal investigators are examining whether there is any ideological or international link to the attack, including reviewing items associated with the suspect such as clothing referencing Iran.
The firearms used in the shooting were obtained legally, according to Davis.
Both Doran and Davis added that the suspect had not previously been identified as a potential threat prior to the shooting.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the incident a traumatic moment for the city, but said he is proud of how first responders and community members reacted. He said police, firefighters and Austin-Travis County EMS showed impressive coordination, and he praised residents for showing compassion and supporting one another in the aftermath. Watson said that, even in a dark moment, many people in Austin are helping create light through their actions.
City leaders said the shooting has not prompted changes to current security plans for upcoming major events like South by Southwest (SXSW), which begins next Thursday.
Davis said Austin police are coordinating with law enforcement partners in other major cities and that agencies across the country have been urged to remain on high alert. She said the investigation will continue in the coming days, with more information expected when the department releases body camera video and additional background details later this week.
Editor’s note: Police initially identified Harrington as 22 years old and Shan as 24 years old. This article has been updated to reflect the corrected ages communicated by Austin Police.