AUSTIN, Texas — Authorities arrested 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick on Monday, one day after authorities found three people killed Sunday afternoon in a northwest Austin apartment complex.
Update 11:12 p.m. ET April 19: The victims in Sunday’s shooting, classified by Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon as “domestic violence,” include Broderick’s wife and 17-year-old daughter, The Washington Post reported.
The Elgin school district on Monday identified two victims as Alyssa Broderick, a student in the district from 2009 to October 2020, and Willie Simmons, a senior at Elgin High School.
According to USA Today, both teenagers were described as bright and athletic, and Simmons had committed to play football at the University of North Texas next year.
The third victim, identified by authorities as 35-year-old Amanda Broderick, filed for a protective order and divorce shortly after her husband’s June 2020 arrest for sexual assault of a child, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Update 9:40 a.m. ET April 19: Authorities arrested Stephen Broderick, 41, on Monday morning, according to KVUE and the Austin American-Statesman.
Officials said they took Broderick into custody in Manor, a city just northeast of Austin, after receiving two 911 calls about a man walking near U.S. 290, according to the Statesman. Authorities told KVUE and the Statesman that he was armed Monday morning, though officials arrested him without incident.
BREAKING: Authorities have captured 41-year-old Stephen Broderick near Manor after receiving a 911 call about a man walking along U.S. 290. He was taken into custody without incident.
— Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) April 19, 2021
Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said Broderick was suspected in Sunday’s deaths of two women and one man, all of whom Broderick knew. The chief said Broderick was a former deputy with the Travis County sheriff’s office, which is based in Austin.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Kristen Dark told the Austin American-Statesman that Broderick, a property crimes detective, resigned after the arrest.
Update 5:04 p.m. ET April 18: According to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, two women and one man died at the scene of the shooting reported at 11:42 a.m. at the Arboretum Oaks Apartments, KXAN reported.
UPDATE: Active Attack incident in the 9600 blk of Great Hills Trl; To this point #ATCEMSMedics have obtained Deceased On Scene pronouncements of 3 adult patients. This is still an active scene, please continue to avoid the area. More to Follow...
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) April 18, 2021
Interim Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon said that a child was involved in the incident but has been located safe and is now in police custody, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Update 4:43 p.m. ET April 18: Austin police confirmed just after 3 p.m. that 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick is the suspected shooter in a domestic incident that left three people dead Sunday afternoon, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Broderick remains at large, Interim Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon stated during a Sunday afternoon news conference.
Broderick is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall with a medium build and was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball cap, Chacon said.
Preliminary information indicates that Broderick knew the victims and that the shooting was targeted, Chacon said, noting the “danger remains high,” the newspaper reported.
Chacon also said Broderick may have a law enforcement background but did not confirm the information.
According to the Texas Rangers and Travis County court records, Broderick is a former Travis County sheriff’s office detective who was charged with sexual assault of a child in June 2020. He spent 16 days in jail prior to posting $50,000 bail, the newspaper reported.
Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kristen Dark confirmed to the Austin American-Statesman that Broderick resigned his position as a property crimes detective following his arrest.
Meanwhile, court and public records show that Broderick’s wife filed for a protective order and divorce shortly after her husband’s arrest, the newspaper reported.
Original report: Austin police said three adults were shot around 11:42 a.m. in what appears to be an isolated domestic incident at an apartment complex near Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway, KXAN reported.
APD is currently on scene of an active shooting incident at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway. All residents are advised to shelter in place and avoid the area. PIO en route. - PIO8
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) April 18, 2021
The Austin-Travis County EMS said the three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple #ATCEMS, @AustinFireInfo & @Austin_Police assets responding/on-scene of a declared Active Attack/Shooter incident in the 9600 blk of Great Hills Trl (11:42); #ATCEMSMedics advising 3 patients with GSW injuries all three with CPR in progress. Avoid the area. MTF...
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) April 18, 2021
Authorities said there was no risk to the general public but asked that residents avoid the area.
“We are still asking residents to shelter in place and report suspicious activity,” Austin police said on social media.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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