AUSTIN, Texas (TCD) — A 34-year-old former Army lieutenant was arrested this week after he allegedly went on a shooting spree in two different cities, killing six people and injuring several others.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar identified the suspect as Shane James. One of James’ siblings last spoke with their parents, Phyllis James and Shane James Sr., on the night of Dec. 4 at approximately 10 p.m. The next morning at 9 a.m., a neighbor noticed that James Sr.’s car wasn’t in the driveway, which he found “odd.”
Police in Austin called the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office on the morning of Dec. 5 and said they had a suspect in custody. Officials asked Bexar County deputies to check the Jameses’ home, and when they arrived, they noticed water had been leaking out of the door. They found that “strange,” and received clearance to force entry in the home. When they got inside, they discovered Phyllis James and Shane James Sr. deceased inside a small room.
Salazar said the victims were likely killed between 10 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 9 a.m. on Dec. 5.
The next several incidents occurred in Austin, which is just under two hours from San Antonio. At 10:43 a.m., Austin Police responded to an officer needs assistance call on the 7200 block of Berkman Drive because an Austin Independent School District Police Department officer had been shot. He was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
KXAN-TV reports the victim, Sgt. Val Barnes, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was discharged from the hospital Dec. 6.
About an hour later, at 11:59 a.m., Austin Police received multiple calls about a shooting on the 7300 block of Shadywood Drive. When police arrived, they found Emmanuel Pop Ba and Sabrina Rahman shot. Pop Ba was pronounced dead at the scene. Medics transported Rahman to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries.
The third incident occurred in the early evening at 5:47 p.m. when police learned a cyclist had been shot at 5701 W. Slaughter Lane. That victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
At 6:48 p.m., Austin Police responded to a robbery in progress call on the 5300 block of Austral Loop and found James in the backyard. He allegedly “fired several gunshots” at an officer, who shot back. One officer was shot multiple times and moved to find cover. Police went inside the home and found two more victims deceased from gunshot wounds.
The officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and he has since been released.
James fled the scene, but was apprehended after he crashed his car about 30 minutes later.
James was previously arrested Jan. 6, 2022, for three counts of assault causing bodily injury for allegedly attacking his parents and a sibling. On Jan. 14, 2022, a victims advocate from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office reached out to James’ parents, who reportedly said James “does not belong in jail. He has mental health issues.”
According to KXAN, James was stationed at Fort Cavazos (formerly known as Fort Hood) as an infantry officer with the 1st Cavalry Division. Then, he served as a first lieutenant. He was reportedly never deployed during his time in the Army.
Travis County Jail records show James is being charged with multiple counts of capital murder. He will also face charges in Bexar County.
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