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<\/p>\nThe Austin Police (APD) Aggravated Assault Unit, alongside local, state, and regional law enforcement partners, has arrested three suspects in connection with a series of shootings, stolen vehicles, and related violent crimes that occurred across Austin between Saturday, May 16, 2026, and Sunday, May 17, 2026.\u00a0
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The three suspects in custody are:<\/p>\n
Cristian\u00a0Fajardo\u00a0Mondragon, 17 years of age\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hispanic male, 16 years of ageHispanic male, 15 years of age<\/p>\n
Because two of the suspects are juveniles under Texas law, APD is limited in what information can be\u00a0publicly released\u00a0regarding\u00a0their identities, booking information, and detention status. The 17-year-old suspect, Cristian Mondragon-Fajardo, has reached the age of criminal responsibility under Texas law and may be publicly\u00a0identified\u00a0in connection with filed criminal charges.\u00a0\u00a0
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Formal charges\u00a0remain\u00a0under review and are expected to include multiple counts related to aggravated assault\u00a0with a deadly weapon,\u00a0aggravated assault\/motor vehicle,\u00a0deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest,\u00a0theft of a firearm,\u00a0and other related offenses.\u00a0Additional\u00a0charges may be filed as investigators continue reviewing ballistic evidence, surveillance footage, witness statements, and recovered evidence.\u00a0
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At this time, investigators believe the incidents were a mix of random and targeted shootings. Some victims were known to the suspects, while other incidents appeared to occur without any known connection.\u00a0Investigators do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public related to these incidents.\u00a0
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The timeline of events is as follows:\u00a0
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Saturday, May 16, 2026<\/p>\n
11:30\u00a0a.m. \u2013 Officers received a report of a stolen firearm from a business\u00a0located\u00a0at 321 W. Ben White Boulevard. Surveillance footage\u00a0identified\u00a0the suspect vehicle as a dark-colored Hyundai Sonata. Investigators later determined the Hyundai Sonata had itself been stolen from the Social Apartments\u00a0located\u00a0at 1817 E. Oltorf Drive.3:58\u00a0p.m. \u2013 10 Yucca Drive \u2013 The first confirmed shooting occurred at a trailer residence. Officers\u00a0located\u00a0multiple shell casings and bullet damage to the structure. No injuries were reported.4:30 p.m. \u2013 3300 Parker Lane \u2013 Officers responded to another shooting at the Whisper Hollow apartment complex. Multiple vehicles and an occupied apartment were struck by gunfire, including rooms occupied by adults and young children. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Investigators recovered shell casings from the scene and obtained surveillance footage showing a black sedan involved in the shooting.6:08\u00a0p.m. \u2013 1601 Montopolis Drive \u2013 A third shooting occurred at an apartment complex.\u00a0Investigators learned that the suspect(s) exited the vehicle on foot and fired through the door of a third-floor apartment.\u00a0No injuries were reported.\u00a0Witnesses\u00a0observed\u00a0a suspect wearing a black hoodie enter a black sedan and flee the scene.\u00a0Investigators obtained surveillance footage, which linked this shooting to the\u00a0previous\u00a0shootings.\u00a0Detectives\u00a0began investigating this as a series of shootings. 6:19\u00a0p.m. \u2013 4802 Cypress Bend \u2013 An unoccupied\u00a0residence was struck by gunfire. The homeowner later\u00a0returned to his residence to\u00a0discover\u00a0bullet holes\u00a0that has been struck through\u00a0his home and vehicle.\u00a0Investigators recovered video footage from a neighboring residence that captured a dark-colored sedan matching the\u00a0vehicle\u00a0that was involved in\u00a0previous\u00a0incidents. 7:00\u00a0p.m. \u2013 2707 S IH-35 Service Road North \u2013 A Hyundai Elantra was stolen from a Motel 6 parking lot.\u00a0Investigators obtained video capturing images of the suspects, which matched the descriptions from\u00a0previous\u00a0incidents.8:30 p.m. \u2013 6575 Decker Lane \u2013 Shots were fired at a business and nearby vehicles.\u00a0A witness\u00a0stated\u00a0that a suspect fired a gun into the air\u00a0from a vehicle. No damage or injuries were reported. 8:49 p.m. \u2013 Austin Fire Station 26, 6702 Wentworth Drive \u2013\u00a0A suspect fired shots\u00a0from a vehicle\u00a0into the\u00a0Austin Fire (AFD)\u00a0station garage doors, while firefighters were inside. The gunfire struck\u00a0emergency response vehicles and equipment. No firefighters were injured.8:55 p.m. – 5701 Purple Sage Drive \u2013\u00a0Two victims\u00a0reported\u00a0that suspect(s) fired\u00a0shots\u00a0from\u00a0their vehicle, striking the\u00a0windshield\u00a0of the\u00a0victim\u2019s\u00a0vehicle, which was parked and attended.\u00a0One victim, who was sitting inside the vehicle when it was struck,\u00a0received minor injuries from the\u00a0shattered windshield glass.\u00a0The witnesses described the suspects\u00a0driving\u00a0in a dark-colored sedan, which matched the description of the sedan used in\u00a0previous\u00a0incidents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sunday, May 17, 2026<\/p>\n
3:50 a.m. \u2013 2336 Douglas Street \u2013 Another stolen vehicle was reported.7:45 a.m. \u2013 1800 E.\u00a0Stassney\u00a0Lane \u2013 Officers recovered a stolen vehicle\u00a0containing\u00a0bullet damage believed\u00a0to be\u00a0connected to the ongoing incidents.8:46\u00a0a.m. \u2013 7409 Janes Ranch Road \u2013 A victim was shot in the back and stomach and transported to a hospital.\u00a0A witness described a dark-colored sedan driving away after hearing shots fired, linking this incident to the incidents of the prior day. 9:00 a.m. \u2013 South First Street and Ben White Boulevard \u2013 Officers\u00a0located\u00a0one of the stolen Hyundai vehicles connected to the investigation, but the vehicle eluded before officers could\u00a0attempt\u00a0a traffic stop.9:30 a.m. \u2013 Investigators recovered\u00a0additional\u00a0stolen vehicles\u00a0in Southeast Austin\u00a0believed\u00a0to be\u00a0tied to the suspects and shootings. 10:46\u00a0a.m. \u2013 Austin Fire Station\u00a032, 2804 Monticello Road \u2013 Another shooting involving a gold-colored sedan was reported.\u00a0A suspect fired shots from a vehicle into the Austin Fire (AFD) station while the garage doors were open, striking an AFD vehicle and the building structure. Firefighters were inside during the shooting. A witness told a firefighter they\u00a0observed\u00a0a suspect in a gold sedan firing into the station.\u00a0 1:27 p.m. \u2013 4501 S IH-35 Service Road North \u2013 Investigators believe the suspects stole a white Kia Optima later used in several shootings.1:44\u00a0p.m. \u2013 2223 Burton Drive \u2013 Two victims were shot during a drive-by shooting involving the white Kia Optima. As officers searched for the suspect vehicle, portions of Burton Drive near East Oltorf Lane were temporarily shut down as part of the active investigation and emergency response.\u00a0Detectives reviewed camera footage\u00a0that corroborated what the victims reported to officers. \u00a0\u00a01:53\u00a0p.m. \u2013 6118 Fairway Street \u2013 Another shooting involving the white sedan was reported. 2:02 p.m. \u2013 10001 Burleson Road \u2013 Additional shots-fired incident reported.2:29\u00a0p.m. \u2013 11700\u00a0Dionda\u00a0Lane \u2013 A victim sustained gunshot wounds and was transported to a trauma center\u00a0with life-threatening injuries. At this time, the victim is continuing to be treated at a local hospital. Investigators\u00a0located\u00a0surveillance footage showing\u00a0a white\u00a0Kia sedan approaching a victim before the victim fell to the ground. The Kia then fled the scene. 3:23 p.m. \u2013 FM 973 Area \u2013 The stolen white Kia Optima was\u00a0located\u00a0by Manor Police Department officers after a BOLO was broadcast to surrounding agencies. Manor Police Department and Travis County Sheriff\u2019s Office deputies pursued the vehicle until the suspects drove into a field near FM 973 and abandoned the vehicle. Three suspects fled on foot. One suspect was apprehended near the vehicle. A second suspect was\u00a0located\u00a0nearby after an extensive search involving K9s, air support, and multiple agencies. The third suspect was detained later after Manor PD responded to a suspicious person call near FM 973. All three suspects were\u00a0ultimately taken\u00a0into custody.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In\u00a0total, over the course of the 12 shootings:<\/p>\n
Four people were struck by gunfire. Three victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. One victim sustained critical injuries\u00a0and was transported to a trauma center.Five vehicles were struck by gunfire.Four residences were struck by gunfire.Two fire stations were struck by gunfire.Three fire department vehicles were struck by gunfire.At least\u00a0five\u00a0vehicles were stolen.One\u00a0firearm\u00a0was\u00a0stolen.<\/p>\n
Investigators connected the incidents through surveillance footage, witness statements, ballistic evidence, stolen vehicle\u00a0reporting and recoveries, recovered shell casings, officer observations, and coordinated intelligence sharing between agencies.\u00a0
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APD utilized\u00a0numerous\u00a0investigative resources, in addition to the Aggravated Assault Unit,\u00a0throughout the investigation, including:<\/p>\n
Air SupportK9 unitsMetro Tactical teams Tactical Intelligence UnitViolent Crimes Task ForcePatrol resourcesSWAT teamsCrime scene specialistsAustin Fire (AFD)Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS)Texas DPSTravis County Sheriff\u2019s OfficeManor Police DepartmentAISD Police DepartmentDel Valle\u00a0ISD\u00a0Police DepartmentUniversity of Texas Police DepartmentThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)<\/p>\n
At this time, investigators are still processing evidence, including shell casings, surveillance footage, stolen vehicles, and digital evidence.\u00a0The investigation\u00a0remains\u00a0ongoing.\u00a0\u00a0
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At this stage of the investigation, APD is aware of the\u00a0contribution\u00a0of license plate reader (LPR) technology\u00a0that\u00a0assisted\u00a0in\u00a0the apprehension of the suspects in Manor. In addition, investigators\u00a0relied heavily on officer observations, coordinated BOLO information,\u00a0witness\u00a0reports, surveillance footage, and regional law enforcement coordination.\u00a0\u00a0
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Anyone with information related to these incidents is asked to contact the APD Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5245. You can also\u00a0submit\u00a0tips\u00a0anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org<\/a> or calling 512-472-8477.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Austin Police (APD) Aggravated Assault Unit, alongside local, state, and regional law enforcement partners, has arrested three…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":299484,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27,29,28],"class_list":["post-299483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299483"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299483\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/299484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}