AUSTIN, Texas — The holiday weekend took a scary turn on Monday morning when Austin police say an apparent road rage incident led to shots being fired downtown.
The shooting happened near Seventh and Red River streets. It’s an area that has seen its share of violence, and some business owners in the area said they’d love to see more done about it.
At Hoboken Pies in Downtown Austin near Seventh and Red River streets, Matthew Wattles and Jamison Bunts cooked up some pizzas on Monday. But just outside their doors, they said crime is common.
“Probably on a weekly basis there is least something that goes down,” said Wattles.
Austin police say the most recent case was Monday morning. Two drivers began arguing around 1 a.m. at the intersection of East Seventh and Red River streets. One of the people involved shot the other and took off.
Bunts thinks more of a law enforcement presence in the area would help.
“Patrol and barriers,” he said.
AJ Bishop likes to play his guitar on Red River Street, but he said not far away, cars speed down the street and it can be a very dangerous intersection.
“On that street, especially the guys with the loud motors, you hear them all the time in the city,” said Bishop.
Monday morning’s incident wasn’t the only dangerous one with a car. During South by Southwest on March 12, there was deadly hit-and-run at the same intersection. Tyrone Thompson is accused of hitting two pedestrians. Both ended up dying. He was later arrested following a separate crash.
“Yeah, right over here. I don’t think that’s good. We need extra coverage,” said Bunts.
Police say they are still looking for a suspect in Monday morning’s shooting. If you have any information, you are asked to call the police.