BREAKING: Police Issue Shelter-in-Place After Multiple Random Shooting Sprees in Austin

This is a developing story.

Police in Austin, TX are currently searching for a suspect, or potentially multiple suspects, after a series of shootings took place.

Nine random shootings have happened in the region since last night.

So far, four people have been shot and injured.

Law enforcement has issued a shelter-in-place order for the area while the search for the suspect(s) continues.

Here are the details:

BREAKING: Austin, TX Police have issued a SHELTER-IN-PLACE warning for a large swath of the city, seen in the below map, as a shooter is going around firing AT RANDOM in the area

Up to NINE shootings have taken place since last night, and four have been shot.

Two fire stations… pic.twitter.com/ux5TkXY5AZ

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 17, 2026

BREAKING: Austin, TX Police have issued a SHELTER-IN-PLACE warning for a large swath of the city, seen in the below map, as a shooter is going around firing AT RANDOM in the area

Up to NINE shootings have taken place since last night, and four have been shot.

Two fire stations have also been shot at, and police are looking for suspect(s) possible in their late teens.

Supposedly, they’re switching between the vehicles seen below.

Anyone in Austin with info is encouraged to call 911 immediately.

The Austin Police Department shared the shelter-in-place order on social media:

SHELTER IN PLACE: Austin Police officers continue to search for suspects located to multiple shootings and have issued a shelter in place in the areas of South Slaughter Ln, East McKinney Falls Pkwy, North Ben White Blvd., and West Escarpment Blvd. Residents in the surrounding…

— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) May 17, 2026

SHELTER IN PLACE: Austin Police officers continue to search for suspects located to multiple shootings and have issued a shelter in place in the areas of South Slaughter Ln, East McKinney Falls Pkwy, North Ben White Blvd., and West Escarpment Blvd. Residents in the surrounding area are instructed to stay indoors until further notice.

The Houston Chronicle provided more details on the suspect(s):

Investigators described a possible suspect as a White or Hispanic male in his late teens.

As of around 2:10 p.m. police said on social media they believe that the suspect or suspects might be traveling in a white KIA Optima. Police have also connected the crime to a black or dark blue 2012 Hyundai Sonata with a broken right-side passenger window.

And, here are a few additional photos:

BREAKING: Austin, Texas police searching for active shooter who carried out 9 random attacks in recent hours. Multiple victims. Call 911 if seen. – Austin American-Statesman pic.twitter.com/d66r8QZ0vA

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) May 17, 2026

The Austin Mayor and Police Chief delivered a joint press briefing with more details on the situation.

Watch it here:

BRIEFING: City of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Chief Lisa Davis provide details on shooting incidents. pic.twitter.com/tkYuonctsl

— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) May 17, 2026

We’ll continue to bring you further updates as they come in.

Please pray for all of the victims and that the suspect(s) responsible will be brought to justice!