Austin Stabbing Leaves 1 Dead, 3 Injured

AUSTIN, TX — One person was killed and three others injured in a stabbing spree in South Austin that began with a disturbance at a coffee shop, authorities said.

The incident occurred along the 500 block of South Congress near Riverside Drive where two people were stabbed just before 8:15 a.m., Austin-Travis County EMS medics wrote on Twitter. Medics later confirmed a man in his 20s was pronounced dead at the scene while another man in his 50s was hospitalized with injuries deemed serious and potentially life-threatening, medics confirmed on Twitter. By 9:07 a.m., medics said they successfully regained a pulse on one of those patients after administering CPR. A fourth patient declined treatment, medics added.

Police reported via Twitter they have a suspect in custody in the aftermath of the attack. A motive for the stabbing is unclear.

Related story: Man Charged In Austin Stabbings Is Homeless: Police

Police later released more details as their investigation progressed, saying the incident began as a disturbance between two people at Bennu Coffee at 515 S. Congress Ave. at around 7:49 a.m. Two customers at the scene attempted to detain the suspect — described only as a white man in his mid-20s — after the man reportedly assaulted another patron for unknown reasons, according to a police account.

The suspect broke away, police said, fleeing to a nearby Freebirds World Burrito at the same shopping center where he stabbed two of the eatery's employees. The man then climbed onto the roof of the establishment before running across it and jumping off — sustaining life-threatening injuries himself, police said.

Austin-Travis County EMS crews arrived on scene and transported one of the Freebirds employees and the suspect to Dell Seton Medical Center. In their press release issued at around 7 p.m., police said one of the injured employees was in stable but serious condition while the suspect remained hospitalized in critical condition. Despite life saving measures by EMS, the other Freebirds employee succumbed to his injuries, and was pronounced deceased at 8:30 a.m.

"This incident appears to be completely random, and there is no ongoing threat to the community," police wrote in their press advisory. "The identities of the victims and suspect are being withheld at this time."

As police continue their investigation, they urged anyone with information or cell phone video that might be helpful to them to contact Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS or use the new Crime Stoppers App or email APD Homicide at homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. Those submitting tips have the option to remain anonymous. Tips also can be submitted by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.

Law enforcement officials added there are no other known suspects, suggesting the incident was a random attack. The name of the suspect was not immediately disclosed.

Residents were urged to avoid the area to accommodate medics and a police investigation. Parts of Riverside Drive and Congress Avenue were blocked off to traffic as police investigate the crime scene.

On Friday afternoon, officials from Bennu Coffee emailed Patch a prepared statement in the wake of the violence: "A tragic incident took place this morning at our South Congress location resulting in injuries to at least one of our customers and the death of another person at a nearby business. We are heartbroken about the injuries to innocent people and the loss of life and are fully cooperating with authorities. Our number one priority is the safety of our customers and employees. We thank everyone for their concern for those involved."

The coffee shop was closed until further notice, company officials added: "Our South Congress location will remain closed at least through today. We will assess the most appropriate time to reopen in the coming hours."

This is a developing story. Patch will update when more details are known.