AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) is investigating a shooting that occurred at the Arboretum Shopping Center Thursday evening that resulted in the deaths of two people.
The shooting occurred near the Teapioca Lounge at around 5 p.m. Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson said that APD received a call of shots fired around that time and received corresponding calls reporting that at least one person had been shot shortly after.
Just after 5:10 p.m., APD, the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS arrived to treat the injuries of one victim. Another was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Shortly after, at around 5:20 p.m., two people, including the shooter, were pronounced dead on the scene. The shooter has been identified as 38-year-old Tang-Kang Dave Chiang.
According to APD, Chiang shot 64-year-old Laura Jauregui and another woman before turning his weapon on himself. Jauregui died on the scene, while the other woman was critically injured.
According to APD, Chiang had no previous relationship with Jauregui or the other woman.
The shooting has caused a feeling of uneasiness for store owners and shoppers at the Arboretum.
Avant Garde Jewelers owner Brian Hoover has one burning question on his mind: why did this happen?
"Do I put locks on the doors? Do I put metal detectors in the store? Because I am concerned that I'm going to be robbed any time because you see what's going on all over the United States," Hoover said.
Eduardo Garcia regularly shops and eats at the Arboretum and called the shooting "unsettling."
"This is a pretty safe place, and that's part of the problem is that you never know where it's going to be because it's not like this is a bad area or anything. So the real problem is that it could be anywhere," Garcia said.
Shootings like these have become a factor in Garcia's decision to move abroad to Canada.
"Growing up in Europe, guns are something that you see either on policemen or in the movies. And so, I wanted it to stay that way for my kids in the future," Garcia said.
APD did not reveal the precise location of the shooting, only saying that it occurred around the Arboretum Shopping Center.
APD, AFD, ATCEMS, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Austin ISD Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the APD Bomb Squad all responded to the scene.
A spokesperson for the Washington Prime Group, the owner of The Arboretum, released the following statement on the incident:
"We are deeply saddened by this senseless act. The safety of our guests, retailers and employees is our top priority. We are working closely with the Austin Police Department as they investigate this isolated incident."
Friday afternoon, the owners of the Teapioca Lounge posted a statement on social media regarding the shooting:
"Our primary concern is the well-being and safety of every individual, and we pledge our support to any efforts that promote healing and recovery."