AUSTIN, Texas — Two people are dead after a shooting in South Austin, according to Austin police. Police believe this shooting is connected with other shootings on Tuesday, including two that injured police officers.
Officials with the Austin Police Department (APD) said just before noon on Tuesday, callers heard gunshots near Shadywood Drive and South First Street.
When officers arrived a few minutes later, they found a man and woman with "obvious signs of trauma" to their body. One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene.
In an update on Wednesday, APD identified the victims as 32-year-old Emmanuel Pop Ba and 24-year-old Sabrina Rahman.
According to KVUE's media partners at the Austin American-Statesman, Rahman was a mother who had moved into her family's new home with her husband and their 12-month-old child the day before.
“She was so excited. She took the baby for a stroller walk,” Marshall Hussain, her uncle, told the Statesman.
Hussain said Pop Ba was a handyman who was helping the family move into the house. He was reportedly getting into his car for lunch when the shooter approached.
Hussain told the Statesman a neighbor found the baby and the stroller following the shooting. He believes Rahman saw the shooter and ran to hide the baby.
Pop Ba was pronounced dead at the scene, while Rahman died at a hospital.
"We do ask everyone that you remain vigilant … Please pay attention to your surroundings," APD Cpl. Destiny Silva said.
The incident happened after an Austin ISD police officer was shot and injured at Northeast Early College High School on Tuesday morning, prompting a lockdown on the campus. Later on Tuesday evening, a police officer was shot and injured at a house in southwest Austin. Police believe the same man is responsible for each of these shootings.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact APD's homicide unit or Capital Area Crime Stoppers by calling 512-472-8477 or by submitting a tip online.
APD said this is its 67th and 68th homicide of 2023.