AUSTIN, Texas — Austin police are investigating after a person was injured by a machete near Auditorium Shores on Tuesday morning.
The Austin Police Department (APD) confirmed that just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to multiple calls reporting an attack involving a machete in the 200 block of First St., not far from Auditorium Shores and The Long Center for the Performing Arts.
"We heard a woman just over here screaming, and she had her dog. She's a jogger, and she was screaming. So I called 911," witness Nathan Kurten said.
Kurten is a frequent visitor to the park. He said what he saw on Tuesday didn't feel real.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a victim with apparent stab wounds. Austin-Travis County EMS confirmed the victim was taken to a hospital with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries.
"I yelled out to the guy, hoping he would stop and run away or do whatever. I yelled out and just said, 'Hey, I've got 911 on the phone,'" Kurten said. "He did stop hitting the guy, but then he started chasing me with his machete."
Investigators say they have a suspect in custody. Kurten said the attack was gruesome.
"The victim was on the ground and he was actually crawling on all fours, and the guy was striking him. And then, you know, he kind of rolled over on his back and he was still striking him, and he just didn't look like he was going to stop," Kurten said.
He said he'd like to see more security and mental health resources in the city.
"As I was running, being chased by the homicidal maniac, it occurred to me that it would be nice if there were maybe a couple of cops just stationed in this general park area just to look out for these sorts of things," Kurten said.