2 dead, 14 injured in shooting at Juneteenth celebration in Texas; police search for suspect

Police in Round Rock, Texas, have asked the public for help in locating a suspect in connection with a shooting during a Juneteenth celebration that left two people dead and 14 others injured.

The incident occurred Saturday night when a fight broke out between two groups in Old Settlers Park around 11 p.m. local time, Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks said early Sunday. Around the same time, someone pulled out a gun and started shooting, Banks said, adding that several people were hit by gunfire.

In a post on X on Sunday evening, police said they were looking for a suspect with “a slim build, approximately 5'7″ tall, short dreadlocks and wearing a white hoodie at the time of the incident.”

Anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Round Rock police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s), police said Sunday evening.

The two people pronounced dead at the scene do not appear to have been involved in the larger altercation, and it is not known how many shooters there were, Banks said.

Round Rock police confirmed Sunday that 14 victims were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

At least six people were taken to hospital with “possibly serious” injuries, rescue workers said earlier. No details about the patients' condition were released on Sunday evening.

Four adults and two children were taken to local trauma facilities, Austin-Travis County Emergency Services said earlier.

The Juneteenth Festival, hosted by a local nonprofit and city government, included a free concert with a variety of performances on Saturday night.

The shooting occurred near the vendor area of ​​the concert stage, Banks said.