Travis County Sheriffs arrive on Suncrest road near FM-973 in Manor, Texas near where two suspects were arrested and police search for another that fled after a series of shootings on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
One of the teenagers arrested after a weekend of shootings, stolen vehicles and a regionwide manhunt has been identified as 17-year-old Cristian Mondragon, according to sources close to the investigation.
Mondragon is charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest with a vehicle.
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A vehicle is towed away on FM-973 in Manor, Texas near where two suspects were arrested and police search for another that fled after a series of shootings on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Austin Police Department officers stage on Suncrest road in Manor, Texas where they are searching for a suspect that fled after a series of shootings on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
An Austin Police Department helicopter circles a residential area near FM-973 in Manor, Texas where police are searching for a suspect that fled after a series of shootings on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
An Austin Police Department SWAT vehicle drives down FM-973 in Manor, Texas where police are searching for a suspect that fled after a series of shootings on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Sources close to the investigation said a warrant had been issued for Mondragon’s arrest in recent months but could not elaborate on the details because Mondragon was underage at the time.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said in a Sunday news conference that two teenagers — ages 15 and 17 — were in custody in connection with the shootings. Davis said the 17-year-old had a warrant for theft of a gun from “the same store” where the 15-year-old stole a gun Saturday.
Police did not share details on the gun theft, but the Austin Police Department’s incident report database shows only one firearm theft on Saturday, May 16. Police responded at 11:34 a.m. to Central Texas Gun Works at 321 W. Ben White Blvd.
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Michael Cargill, the owner of Central Texas Gun Works, confirmed to the American-Statesman that a firearm was stolen Saturday. He also corroborated an account shared by a Reddit user during Sunday’s events. The Reddit user wrote that they were taking a class at Central Texas Gun Works around 11:40 a.m. Saturday with Cargill when employees — including Cargill — began “sprinting toward the front.” The user said they believed that was when the firearm was stolen.
Cargill said “that’s about how it went down” in response to the Reddit user’s story and said employees chased the person “down Congress Avenue,” but couldn’t catch up.
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Central Texas Gun Works in Austin, Monday, May 18, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
“He did not look like a teenager,” Cargill said. “We don’t have to ID someone if they want to look at a gun, but of course we do if they’re going to buy one.”
Under Texas law, those looking to purchase guns must produce a valid government-issued ID.
Cargill said the store would be looking into new security features, including a system in which employees would have to “buzz” people out of the store.
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Police have not confirmed Cargill’s or the Reddit user’s account of events, nor have they confirmed the location from which the teenagers stole the firearms.
Cargill originally told the American-Statesman the suspect in the image police officials sent to media outlets Sunday afternoon appears to be in his store — but he’s “100% confident that person did not purchase a gun from us.” Cargill declined to say how he could be so sure that one of the suspects did not purchase a firearm from his store.
Cargill said he sent footage from surveillance cameras at his store to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after he saw news reports of the shootings. He said it’s standard practice for him to send surveillance video to law enforcement when he sees news of some shootings.
All Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) are required to report to the ATF and local law enforcement within 48 hours of discovering the theft or loss of a firearm. Those reports must be made both in writing and by telephone, according to the ATF.
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12 shootings throughout South, East Austin
While police have not shared an exact timeline or location of events, Davis said police responded to the first of the 12 shootings just before 4 p.m. Saturday and the final shooting around 8:45 a.m. Sunday. This came after police were alerted to a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex, as well as the firearm theft, but investigators didn’t connect the cases until later. The two teenage suspects are accused of stealing at least four vehicles over the two days, Davis said.
The incidents were reported predominantly in South and East Austin and included gunfire at apartment buildings, homes and two fire stations, Davis said. A fire truck was struck while firefighters were behind it, and officers went door to door at some homes and apartment buildings to check whether anyone inside had been hit.
Four people were injured by gunfire, and one suffered serious injuries but is stable, Davis said.
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Motives still unknown
The investigation is still ongoing, and police are unsure of the suspects’ motives.
“I don’t know what motive would drive anybody to come and drive around senselessly in the city, in multiple parts of the city, shooting,” Davis said.
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Authorities have not publicly identified the 15-year-old or a third suspect arrested late Sunday in Manor after an hourslong manhunt tied to the shootings.
Staff writer Austin Sanders contributed to this report.