EMS: 1 dead, 3 injured in stabbing at UT campus; suspect in custody

May 1, 2017 in News by Ken

Austin American Statesmen

One person is dead and three others have been taken to the hospital after a reported stabbing attack on the University of Texas campus Monday afternoon, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

University police said they have a suspect in custody and that the public is not in any immediate threat. Officials are asking the public to avoid the area near 21st Street and Speedway.

Around 1:46 p.m. emergency officials first responded to the stabbing near Gregory Gym at 2101 Speedway.

EMS reported that they have taken three people with potentially serious injuries to University Medical Center Brackenridge.

About a dozen Austin police units swarmed responded to provide back up and support university police, which is leading the response to the stabbing, said spokeswoman Amanda Cole.

The incident comes about 13 months after the slaying of Haruka Weiser, 18, a freshman theater and dance student from Portland, Ore., whose body was found April 5, 2016, on the bank of Waller Creek near the UT alumni center. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, authorities say.

Last week, university police alerted the campus about a drive-by shooting near Dean Keeton and San Jacinto streets on Thursday. No one was injured, and police said neither the shooter or his target were affiliated with the university.