5 in Hospital After Shooting at Austin-Area Walmart; Alcohol Fueled Party to Blame?
Five people are in hospital following a shooting at an Austin area Walmart. Police are currently investigating the shooting that took place in the parking lot of the Walmart store on Sunday morning.
According to reports four of those shot were teenagers aged 18 and 19. Investigators have reported to the media that they were shot by another teenager.
A woman worker from the area has told KVUE News that she heard the gunshots go off: "This morning at 4:30 a.m. I heard a 'pop, pop, pop,' like firecrackers. All of a sudden I saw police and ambulance."
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Police reports have claimed that a group of teenagers gathered at the parking lot to finish a fight that had begun between them earlier at an alcohol fueled party. They gathered at the parking lot outside the Walmart shop, which is near Highway 183 and FM 1431.
Cedar Park Police Chief Henry Fluck has said, "This stemmed from a party that occurred possibly somewhere either in Williamson County or Leander, in which there was alcohol consumed at that party," according to WFAA TV.
Soloman Onwukaife, 18, is alleged to have pulled out a handgun during the confrontation and shot the four unidentified victims.
Within minutes of the shootings police descended on the scene and arrested Onwukaife. Fluck said, "The responding patrol officer got there very promptly - within three to four minutes from the call - and he confronted the suspect at gunpoint and the suspect complied."
One victim was treated at the hospital but has since been released, where as three other victims are reportedly in a critical condition but stable, and are continuing to receive treatment in a local hospital.
The alleged shooter was also injured during the confrontation and suffered a facial injury.
The nearby Walmart was closed down briefly following the shootings and arrest but no staff or customers were injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, police investigations are continuing and Onwukaife is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
