This archive report was first published on 12 June 2021.
On Saturday, June 12, 2021, a shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, left 13 people injured or wounded, according to the police.
Responding to a report of shots fired at 1:25 a.m., officers found several victims with gunshot wounds and injuries.
Victims were taken to area hospitals, with six being transported by officers, three by personal vehicles, and four by Austin-Travis County E.M.S.
Mayor Steve Adler attributed the uptick in gun violence to a disturbing rise in gun violence across the country, stating, 'The uptick in gun violence locally is part of a disturbing rise in gun violence across the country as we exit the pandemic.'
He emphasized the need for a broader, coordinated response from all levels of government, saying, 'APD and the City Council have initiated multiple violence prevention efforts in response — but this crisis requires a broader, coordinated response from all levels of government.'
Adler also stressed that greater access to firearms does not equal greater public safety, stating, 'One thing is clear — greater access to firearms does not equal greater public safety.'
