NEWTOWN, Conn. – Two people were killed and 14 others were injured after a 53-year-old man began shooting with a pistol and a rifle outside of a crowded bar in Austin, Texas. Law enforcement officers were able to confront the shooter in less than a minute after the first calls for help, ultimately shooting and killing the suspect. The FBI is currently investigating the shooting as a potential terrorist act.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least eight mass shootings in Texas since the start of 2026 in which four or more people were killed or injured, excluding the shooter. Last year, there were at least 37 mass shootings in the state.
In response to this attack, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Less than one minute was all it took for a gunman to senselessly kill two people, seriously injure 14 others, and traumatize hundreds who were at the scene – many of whom were college-aged students just trying to enjoy an evening out. In an instant, gun violence takes everything – including precious lives, and an entire community’s sense of safety. We stand with the community of Austin in condemning this terrible attack and are grateful that law enforcement’s swift actions saved lives.
“As the investigation unfolds, we encourage officials to reveal what warning signs may have been present leading up to this tragedy. Most mass shooters exhibit a range of warning signs before committing their attacks, including making threats, excessive irritability, becoming withdrawn, and other signals. When you know the signs and how to get help, mass shootings and many other acts of violence can be prevented and lives can be saved.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about ways to support life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279