AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Officials said 13 people were injured following a shooting in downtown Austin's 6th Street district early Saturday morning.
Austin Police interim chief Joseph Chacon said 911 calls started coming in around 1:25 a.m. Saturday morning from the 400 block of East 6th Street.
“I cannot say that there is no further public danger at this point because the suspect is not in custody. It appears at this point to be isolated,” said Chacon.
No fatalities have been reported so far, but two patients remain in critical condition. Chacon said the large crowds on 6th Street made the response difficult, especially for EMS crews.
“Because of the nature of the injuries, officers had to use their police vehicles to put some of the vehicles and transport them themselves to the hospital,” Chacon said.
According to Austin-Travis County EMS, four patients were transported by ambulance, while six patients were transported by APD officers and two others were transported by private vehicle. Chacon said a 13th patient was transported to an urgent care clinic with "multiple" gunshot wounds.
“I am very grateful at this point that we do not have more people who are deceased. I do believe it was the actions of our officers who responded very quickly an have been trained in life saving measures, including use of first aid kits and tourniquets that they carry on their person, to be able to help people who were in serious distress,” said Chacon.
No suspect in the shooting had been taken into custody, Chacon said, with a preliminary description of a black male, wearing a black shirt with a thin, skinny build and dreadlocks.
Chacon said the area is expected to remain shut down as officers continue to work the scene and investigate. Officials are asking for anyone who may have seen the shooting or who has video of the incident to call 512-472-TIPS.
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