Video: Shooting incident rattles Austin on final night of SXSW

I was a few feet away when a gunshot rang out on 6th Street in Austin

A suspect was placed in handcuffs after a shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, as SXSW wrapped. Sunday, March 17, 2019. Photo by Matt Carey

One of my favorite activities during SXSW is catching the nightlife on 6th Street, which is packed with massive crowds, especially when the music portion of South By kicks into high gear. Thousands of festival attendees, and others drawn to Austin by the prospect of excitement, fill the road, which is blocked off to vehicle traffic during SXSW. Musicians, rappers, contortionists, ventriloquists, dancers and other buskers compete for attention in a carnival-life atmosphere. 

Early Sunday morning the upbeat party vibe was interrupted by a gunshot at the intersection of 6th and San Jacinto. I happened to be about 20 feet away when the shot rang out. When I heard the "pop" of gunfire I paused for a moment, trying to register what kind of sound I was hearing. The people around me seem to do likewise, and then after a beat somebody shouted something about a gun and the panicked crowd began rushing away from the scene.

I had been shooting black and white stills, so the first few seconds of video I recorded (before I switched the setting on my camera to color) are B&W.

As you can see, cops immediately swarmed a suspect. A person apparently hit with a bullet was partially shielded from my view by a tree. He was quickly treated by paramedics. Below is video I recorded in color.

Below is a tweet issued by the Austin Police Department shortly after the incident.
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#AustinPD is working a shooting call in the 300 block of E. 6th St. One person will be transported to the hospital. Individuals have been detained, but still searching for others that may have been involved. Please avoid the area as the investigation continues.

— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) March 17, 2019