South Austin Residents Question Authenticity of Shelter-in-Place Alert More than 50,000 residents in South Austin received a shelter-in-place alert on Wednesday, prompting widespread confusion as many initially suspected it was a phishing scam. The alert, issued by local authorities, warned of a “dangerous and violent” person with outstanding warrants who was at large. However, its unusual formatting and lack of clear identification raised doubts among recipients, leading to mixed reactions and calls for greater transparency. Chris Bataska, a South Austin resident, received the alert while at his office on Barton Springs Road. He described the message as suspicious, noting that it included a link that appeared different from standard alerts sent by local agencies. “We’ve had a lot of phishing attempts at the company, so my first thought was to email it to IT because it looked like a different link than normal,” he said. Bataska emphasized the need for clearer identification of the sending agency, such as a trusted domain like “.gov,” and a more straightforward message structure. The alert, written in all caps, also included a link labeled “please click here to acknowledge receipt of this message,” which further fueled skepticism. John Stolz, another resident, expressed confusion and concern, stating, “It seemed really spammy.” He noted that the message lacked clarity about the sender and the specific neighborhoods affected. Stolz added that online forums like Reddit echoed similar concerns, with many users questioning the alert’s legitimacy. Approximately 30 minutes after the alert was sent, the Austin Police Department (APD) confirmed its authenticity via a post on X. The department identified the suspect as a muscular Black man in his mid-30s, wearing a white shirt and a white hat with a red brim.#fbi #austin_police_department #south_austin #chris_bataska #john_stolz
Austin Negotiates with Abbott to Avoid $2.5M Grant Loss Over ICE Policy City officials in Austin are engaged in discussions with Texas Governor Greg Abbott to prevent the loss of $2.5 million in state grant funding, following Abbott’s threat to revoke the money over new policies enacted by the Austin Police Department (APD) that limit interactions between local officers and federal immigration agents. The dispute centers on APD’s recent policy, which prohibits officers from arresting or detaining individuals solely based on noncriminal warrants issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The policy was introduced in March after public backlash over a 911 call that resulted in the deportation of an Austin woman and her daughter, sparking widespread community concerns about police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Assistant City Manager for Public Safety Ramon Batista stated that Austin officials are “continuing conversations with the Governor’s office in a good faith effort to reach a resolution.” He emphasized the critical role of the at-risk grants, which fund programs aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, processing sexual assault kits, and keeping youth out of the juvenile justice system. Abbott’s threat to withhold funding came as part of a broader crackdown on three major Texas cities—Austin, Houston, and Dallas—that have implemented policies to curtail local police interactions with ICE. The governor’s office argued that the new APD policy violates state grant agreements by “impeding or restricting” the ability of officers to notify ICE about individuals in custody who may have immigration violations.#lisas_davis #austin_police_department #u_s_immigration_and_customs_enforcement #texas_governor_greg_abbott #ramon_batista
Three people died, and at least 14 others were injured in a mass shooting on West Sixth Street in downtown Austin overnight on Saturday, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. The incident occurred during the transition from Saturday to Sunday, with the area under investigation by the Austin Police Department. Authorities confirmed that the shooting took place at a bar on West Sixth Street, with the suspect using an SUV to approach the scene. Police reported that the suspect fired a handgun out of the vehicle’s window, striking individuals on a patio and in front of the establishment. After parking on Wood Street, the suspect exited the vehicle and continued shooting at pedestrians. Officers arrived promptly and fatally shot the suspect during the confrontation. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), were on the scene to assist with the investigation. The FBI stated that there were “indicators” of terrorism linked to the shooting, though no specific details were provided. The agency’s joint terrorism task force and specialty teams are reviewing the case. Emergency responders acted swiftly, with medics arriving within 57 seconds of receiving the call at 1:59 a.m. Austin-Travis County EMS reported that 14 individuals were transported to hospitals, three of whom were in critical condition. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the rapid response, calling it “a lifesaver” for those affected. Chief of the Austin Police Department, Davis, highlighted the importance of the department’s customary staging on East Sixth Street, which allowed for a quick mobilization of officers and medical personnel.#fbi #west_sixth_street #atf #austin_police_department #austin_travis_county_ems
