AUSTIN, Texas — A 20-year-old man is in custody after police say he stabbed two people Wednesday night at the Buzz Mill, a coffee bar in Austin’s East Riverside area.

Shankar Temple Grace is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Austin Police Department (APD).

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Man in zombie costume stabs 2 at SE Austin coffee shop, police say

Buzz Mill owner Jason Sabala said the incident happened during the coffee bar’s weekly comedy show after Grace was reportedly asked to dispose of an outside alcoholic drink.

“Under TABC rule, we had to ask him to throw it away or leave,” Sabala said. “And he decided he wanted to head out towards the back of the property.”

Sabala said Grace then walked through a set of doors to the back patio area, grabbed a knife, and stabbed two people, a security guard and an employee working sound for the show.

“We are very excited to say that everyone is going to be okay,” Sabala said.

Joe Blackman, a regular at The Buzz Mill, arrived Wednesday night shortly after the incident.

KEYE

“There were, I think, probably about 15, 16 police vehicles,” Blackman said.

Blackman said when he arrived, police had taped part of the establishment off with crime scene tape. He said some people fled, while others retreated inside from the patio.

“It’s a place where you don’t see any drama. So to see something like this happen, I think it just shakes people, you know, throws people off,” said Blackman.

Austin police confirmed that the suspect was wearing a Halloween costume during the incident.

However, Sabala said that Grace often wears costume-like makeup.

“He’s always dressed in makeup,” Sabala said. “Sometimes it’s in clown makeup. Evidently, last night, it was in zombie makeup. But he dresses like that on a normal basis.”

Sabala added that Grace had attended multiple shows at the venue before Wednesday night and that he was not aware of any previous disturbances.

“He’s been through here on multiple shows. There’s never been any instances of APD being called. There’s never been any instances with security being called,” Sabala said.

ALSO | Testimony begins in trial of man charged in Austin-San Antonio shooting spree

In order to move forward, Sabala said he is leaning on the community The Buzz Mill has built over its 13 years.

“I think a lot of people, especially in this area, they understand that East Riverside’s still a rough diamond,” Sabala said. “It still has some areas where it’s not perfect, but it’s our community, and it’s something that we need to care about, study, and do the work to figure it out.”

The Buzz Mill plans to continue its weekly comedy series. However, Sabala said he is leaving the decision about whether next Wednesday’s show will go ahead to the show’s hosts.