The suspect in the deadly shooting that took place in Austin, Texas, is reported to be a former sheriff's detective who was charged with sexually assaulting a child in June last year.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Broderick left the Travis County Sheriff’s Office last year after he was charged with first-degree felony child sex assault and jailed for allegedly molesting a 16-year-old girl. He was ordered held on $100,000 bail and placed on unpaid leave.
The Austin Police Department (APD) has issued a picture of the alleged gunman, who was identified as 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick. According to Acting Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, Broderick is "armed and dangerous".
Police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway at about 12 am local time on Sunday. Authorities advised residents to take shelter and leave the area, fearing that the gunman could take hostages.
According to the police chief, the victims of the Sunday shooting are two Hispanic women and one Black man. The exact motive of the attack remains unclear.
"This appears to be a domestic incident and the victims were all known to our suspect," Chacon told reporters on Sunday afternoon. "My understanding is that this individual at one time was a deputy for the Travis County Sheriff's Office," he said.
According to Chacon, people should still be vigilant as the suspect is still at large.
"We do not think that this individual is out targeting random people to shoot them," Chacon added, warning, nonetheless that "He is still at large, we do think that he is armed and he is very much dangerous."