Mayor, police and FBI say probe into Austin shooting is ongoing; three victims named

At a news conference, the mayor, Austin Police Chief Davis and federal investigators said the probe into a deadly shooting in Austin is ongoing, named three victims and said body-worn camera footage and information about the suspect could be released later this week.

The mayor praised the response by police, fire and EMS, saying, "There were lots of acts of heroism on Sunday morning," and announced a family resource center to assist those affected. She asked residents to care for one another as the city mourns.

Chief Davis described the scene as "complicated and very large," thanked federal partners including the FBI and said investigators are working through evidence and witness interviews. "We have over a 150 witnesses to this event that we are are working with the FBI," she said, and added that an officer-involved shooting is also under review. She told reporters body-worn camera footage and details about the suspect's criminal history could be released later in the week.

Rob Lukritz, chief of Austin-Travis County EMS, said EMS and other emergency partners responded rapidly and worked with autonomous-vehicle vendors present at the scene. "We were on scene within 57 seconds," Lukritz said, and he added that the circulating video of an autonomous vehicle did not appear to have affected patient outcomes. Lukritz said EMS has contacted Waymo and other vendors to address concerns raised by the incident.

When asked whether the suspect acquired firearms legally, Chief Davis said the guns were purchased legally and that she believed they had been purchased in 2017 in San Antonio. Reporters pressed officials for victim information; Chief Davis identified three victims as Savitha, Sean and Ryder Harrington and said he believed Ryder was about 22 and Savitha about 24, characterizing those ages as approximate.

Reporters also asked whether the imagery on a shirt suggesting an Iranian flag indicated a connection to events in Iran. Officials said the indicators are among the lines of inquiry being pursued. Addressing that question, an FBI agent asked during the briefing and later answered reporters' questions by saying the bureau will "pursue all investigative lines," including any possible terrorism nexus, and will examine video, movement and associations as part of its work.

Chief Davis said search warrants executed in other jurisdictions were based on addresses and locations tied to the suspect and that evidence was recovered. When asked whether the suspect had been on law enforcement's radar prior to the incident, she said he was not previously flagged by APD.

On public-safety implications for city events, Chief Davis said security plans for South by Southwest and other spring festivals were not expected to change and that the department will use best practices and available resources to keep events safe.

The mayor closed by noting the city created a downtown area command with EMS in 2024 to improve readiness in high-activity entertainment areas, a structure she said helped the response. Chief Davis said investigators will continue interviews and evidence review and that more information will be released as it becomes available.

No formal actions or votes were taken at the briefing; officials emphasized the investigation is ongoing and cautioned against premature conclusions.