The annual festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Austin each year, starts next week.

AUSTIN, Texas — In the wake of the recent mass shooting downtown, Austin leaders said on Monday they’re focused on safety, especially with South by Southwest just 10 days away.

The festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Austin each year, but Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the shooting has not changed how officers are preparing for the event.

“I feel confident that the resources we have at play, South By Southwest, will continue on, and it will be a safe festival season,” said Davis, while responding to a reporter’s question during a news conference on Monday about Sunday’s mass shooting.


Council member credits fast response for saving lives

Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, whose District 9 includes downtown, said his office has been in contact with South by Southwest organizers following the shooting.

Qadri credited an existing partnership between police and EMS in the entertainment district with helping save lives.

“I would love for it to expand,” Qadri said. “I don’t want to see another mass shooting. I never thought I would see a mass shooting in Austin, let alone happen in the district. But the fact that it did happen, and we had the program in place, yeah, I would 100% champion expanding it.”


EMS union: Response took 57 seconds

James Monks, president of the Austin EMS Association, said first responders reached the first victims just 57 seconds after the initial call.

He said union leaders are proud of that response time but plan to conduct a full review.

“Once we get a debriefing with the department and for all the folks that were there, we want to talk to them about their experience and have a more in-depth sit-down to understand what could be done better,” Monks said. “But at this time, we just don’t have those details. We’re still working through that.”


Training and coordination praised

Chief Davis also praised active shooter training provided by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University in San Marcos.

“And that training, there is no doubt, and that coordinated response with EMS, saved lives,” said Davis.

Austin police are expected to share more details about security plans for the spring festival season on March 12 – the opening day of South by Southwest.