A man, aged 34, has been apprehended following a series of shootings that spanned an entire day, leaving six people dead and three injured in Austin and San Antonio. The alleged shooter, Shane James Jr., is now in police custody, facing charges of capital murder. Investigators believe that among the victims were James’ own parents, who resided in the San Antonio area.
The victims from San Antonio have been identified as Shane James Sr., 56, and Phyllis James, 55. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar stated that the younger James is suspected of using a large caliber handgun to kill his parents sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Their bodies were discovered on Tuesday evening.
In Austin, the shooting spree claimed the lives of four individuals, including two police officers. The deceased have been identified as Emmanuel Pop Ba and Sabrina Rahman, while the identities of the other two victims remain undisclosed. The shootings occurred at various locations across the city.
Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson disclosed that James was apprehended after his vehicle crashed while he was trying to escape from a shootout with a police officer. The officer was shot multiple times but is currently in stable condition.
James is being held in custody as he awaits trial, as per the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation into the motive behind the shootings is still ongoing.
James has a history of run-ins with the law, having been arrested in January 2022 on three counts of assault and bodily injury of a family member. Court records show that he had pushed his parents during the incident. Initially charged with misdemeanors, his bond conditions were altered after his family revealed his mental health struggles and argued against his incarceration.
In August, deputies were called to the James residence due to a mental health crisis involving James. He had barricaded himself in a room but did not pose an immediate threat to the deputies. However, a warrant for his arrest was issued when he removed his ankle monitor in March 2022.
Authorities have admitted that they had limited knowledge of James’ potential for extreme violence, emphasizing that there were no clear signs of the severity of his actions. Bexar County District Attorney, Joe Gonzales, stated that it was impossible to foresee the extent of the murder committed by James.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the law enforcement’s response to the tragic events and reiterated that such acts of violence would not be tolerated. The investigation into the multiple homicides and shootings is ongoing as authorities strive to piece together the details of the tragic events.