New York tourist is first to be declared dead in Austin shooting

A tourist from New York has been declared as the first casualty of the mass shooting in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, officials said.

Douglas John Kantor, 25, was declared dead on Sunday noon local time from the injuries sustained during the sixth street shooting, the police department confirmed.

Kantor was one of the 14 people who were injured in the shooting. Some of the victims received mild injuries, however, two people, including Kantor, were seriously injured, Austin Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon told a press briefing.

There’s no update on the condition of the second person who was critically wounded. The police also said almost all of those injured were “innocent bystanders.”

Authorities have identified two male suspects in the mass shooting and added that it appeared this was an isolated incident between the two parties.

The incident erupted at around 1.30am in the Sixth Street area, which is a popular nightlife destination in the state capital.

Chief Chacon said the police promptly acted on the 911 calls. “They were there within seconds,” the chief said. “And quickly identified several shooting victims that were in distress. They began immediate life-saving measures.”

Steve Adler, the mayor of Austin, commented on the shooting downtown in a series of tweets, expressing concerns about the rising incidents of gun violence.

“The uptick in gun violence locally is part of a disturbing rise in gun violence across the country as we exit the pandemic,” he said.

“APD and the City Council have initiated multiple violence prevention efforts in response but this crisis requires a broader, coordinated response from all levels of government. One thing is clear – greater access to firearms does not equal greater public safety,” he said.