Three Killed in Texas Target Shooting; Suspect in Custody After Dramatic Chase

A routine back-to-school shopping trip turned into tragedy in Austin, Texas, on Monday when a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a Target store, killing two adults and a child before fleeing the scene and stealing two cars.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect, a man in his 30s with a known mental health history, is now in custody after a tense pursuit across the city. Authorities are still working to determine a motive.

The shooting began around 2:15 p.m. Officers arriving at the Target on Research Parkway found three victims with gunshot wounds in the parking lot. An adult and a child were pronounced dead at the scene, while another adult died later at the hospital. A fourth person was treated for a non-traumatic medical issue.

Police believe one of the victims was the owner of the car stolen from the parking lot. The suspect crashed that vehicle before stealing another from a dealership. He was eventually stopped about 20 miles away in south Austin, where officers used a Taser to take him into custody.

Target issued a statement saying the company was “devastated” and would be offering grief counseling to employees.

Mayor Kirk Watson called the incident a “sickening, cowardly act of gun violence” in a post on X.

The attack comes just weeks after a mass stabbing at a Walmart in Michigan, raising renewed concerns over safety at major retail stores.