AUSTIN, Texas – Four people were injured and one person is in custody after a shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, early Sunday as the city hosts the annual South by Southwest festival, police said.
The Austin Police Department told people to avoid the 400 block of East 6th Street at around 2:50 a.m., warning via Twitter that the gunman was still at large.
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However, police tweeted that a suspect was in custody shortly before 5 a.m. The suspect’s name hasn’t been released.
Police and the Austin-Travis County EMS said the victims’ injuries were not life-threatening, and all four had been taken to the hospital.
The shooting is believed to have stemmed from a disturbance between two groups of people, and took place in an area with several bars near where some SXSW festival events are held.
Police said it was not a random act of violence and that there is no danger to the public.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the festival to go virtual the last two years.
In 2019, multiple shootings took place as the festival drew to a close, prompting Austin’s police chief to pledge more security for the city’s entertainment district.
The weeklong arts and technology fest mixes tech, politics and entertainment. It started in 1987 as a small showcase for up-and-coming bands that turned into an international extravaganza, including movie premieres and performances from major artists.
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The headline has been corrected to reflect that the shooting did not take place at the South by Southwest festival.