Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Two Teens Arrested in 10 "Random" Shootings, Austin Weekend Terror | Crime Alert 05.18.26

Episode Date: May 18, 2026

15- and 17-year-old boys in custody after shooting at "random" Austin targets Saturday and Sunday. Parents of rape victim begging University of California Santa Barbara to request assistance from larger law enforcement agencies to get attacker behind bars as quickly as possible. Sydney Silvagni reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's a summer kickoff thing. Join today at Simonplus.com. Rewards program Terms Apply. See Simonplus.com for details. Crime alert, hourly update. Breaking crime news now. I'm Sidney. Authorities in Austin have arrested two teenage suspects in connection with a terrifying series of shootings that spanned across the city, leaving four people injured in an entire community on high alert. Austin PD chief Lisa Davis announced during a Sunday press conference that a 17 and 15-year-old bull, have been taken into custody. Investigators believe the pair are responsible for as many as 10 separate attacks across the city over Saturday and Sunday. Astonishingly, police are still searching

for a third suspect who remains at large and is believed to be near the suburb of Manor. According to Mayor Kirk Watson, the wave of violence appeared completely indiscriminate, targeting unsuspecting citizens and even emergency responders. Two of the targeted locations were Austin Fire Department stations. We are reporting multiple shootings throughout the area. Two of those have been at our fire station, or at two Austin Fire Department stations. These are occurring primarily in South Austin,

and we don't have any specific motive that has been identified. In fact, these actions appear to be random. The violence began around 9 p.m. Saturday on the 6,700 block of Wentworth Drive in East Austin, when a suspect opened fire directly toward fire station, 26. The next morning, around 8 a.m. near the intersection of James Ranch Road and Ballydon Drive in in southeast Austin, a male victim was shot once. He was rushed to the hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition. Less than three hours later, the shooter struck again, firing rounds

toward Fire Station 32 in the 2,800 block of Montabello Road. Austin FD. confirmed that no firefighters were injured. David Gerard, the president of the Austin Firefighters Association, a statement emphasizing that the attacks have not hindered their emergency operations, stating that crews remain in full force, responding to every call without hesitation. We've learned the 17-year-old suspect already had an active warrant for gun theft, while the 15-year-old is accused of stealing a firearm on Saturday. The teenagers are also accused of stealing four separate vehicles during the violent spree. Following the arrests, a shelter-in-place order for South Austin was lifted, though the Manor Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff's Office urge residents in their jurisdictions to remain indoors during the manhunt for the third suspect.

Chief Lisa Davis strictly warned residents to lock their vehicles as auto theft acted as the catalyst for this entire shooting streak. At this point, we know the suspect's vehicles used in this incident have included a black or dark blue Hyundai, a gold Hyundai sedan, a silver Mazda foredoor, and a white Kia Optima, which APD is currently looking for. Anyone with information is urged to contact Austin PD at 512-974-5177 or submit anonymous tips to crime stoppers up 512 472-87. A reward of up to $1,000 is available for tips leading to an arrest. More crime and justice news after this. Get rewarded just for shopping with Simon Plus. Don't miss Memorial Day sales at Simon Premium Outlets and Mills. You can get points at scores of stores, access to exclusive offers, and exciting surprises. You've got an extra day off, so make it pay off with the best deals from brands you love all in one place. It's a summer kickoff thing. Join today at Simonplus.com. Rewards program terms apply. See

Simonplus.com for details. Growing outrage and fear are enveloping the University of California Santa Barbara campus where an alleged rapist is still on the loose. The parents of a UCSB student who was brutally raped and strangled near campus are demanding that outside law enforcement take over the investigation, expressing severe lack of confidence in the campus police department. In a statement, the victim's family said, our singular focus remains seeing this monster behind bars. The family has retained Attorney Tyrone Maho and private investigator Michael Clayter, fearing that the UCSB Police Department lacks the sophisticated resources required to solve the case. The attacker remains unidentified.

The family is formally pressing for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department to intervene. Their profound skepticism is deeply rooted in another unresolved tragedy from last year, the death of 18-year-old UCSB freshman Elizabeth Hamill, who died after a fall from a third-floor breezeway at San Rafael Residence Hall on February 14, 2025. An individual who allegedly witnessed Hamill's fall failed to call 911, and that case remains unresolved. Maho, who represents both families, spoke out about the urgent need for a larger agency to step in. We're pleading with the chancellor, please request the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department to help with this investigation, to help apprehend this person immediately. The community is not safe. I do believe they truly want to find

this person and they are doing everything they can. We're just asking that they get assistance. They get assistance from a department that's bigger, more capable, has the resources to do so, and has the experience to do so. According to campus alerts, the horrific assault occurred around 10 p.m. on May 10th. The victim and the suspect met earlier that evening at a party in Isla Vista and did not know each other prior to the attack. Private investigator Michael Clayter, a former Santa Barbara police detective, has warned that the public is an active danger until this predator is caught, making a direct plea for any witnesses to come forward. Remember, it might be enough just to say, I saw this, and then they can then put the pieces together themselves. They're not going to need to use you to testify or anything like that.

Just give them the direction that you think is important and let them do the rest. Maho also sharply criticized UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Dennis Asanis, citing past controversy over his handling of sexual misconduct cases during his time at the University of Delaware, adding that Asanis has completely refused to speak with the family. family's legal team. In response, the UCSB Police Department said that federal privacy laws prevent them from sharing specific case details, but defended their agency as a fully accredited, capable law enforcement body that is actively investigating all tips. Anyone with information can contact the UCSB Police Department anonymously at 805-893-7274.

For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Sidney Silver. money. Get rewarded just for shopping with Simon Plus. Don't miss Memorial Day sales at Simon Premium Outlets and Mills. You can get points at scores of stores, access to exclusive offers, and exciting surprises. You've got an extra day off, so make it pay off with the best deals from brands you love all in one place. It's a summer kickoff thing. Join today at Simonplus.com. Rewards program term supply. See simonflest.com for details. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.