Austin shooting suspect named, terror timeline revealed after alleged 28-hour youth attack, 12 attacks
Texas police released the gun of one of three juveniles arrested over the weekend in connection with 12 separate shootings across Austin that left four people injured, along with a timeline of the attacks over a 28-hour period.
Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, 17, was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly participating in a shooting that left four people injured, hit two fire stations and triggered a shelter-in-place order in South Austin, the Austin Police Department said in a statement.
Mondragon was arrested along with two other suspects, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, police said. Their names have not been released because of a statewide law about what information involving minor suspects can be made public.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:30 am
Police received a report of a stolen gun from a local business. Photos taken afterward revealed that the vehicle the suspects were driving was also recently stolen, according to authorities.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3:58 pm
Less than five hours later, authorities confirmed the first shooting at the trailer park. However, no one was reported injured.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4:30 pm
Police responded to another shooting at the Whisper Hollow apartment complex, where multiple vehicles and an apartment complex were hit by gunfire. Witness descriptions and surveillance footage of the suspects led authorities to believe the two shootings were related.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6:08 pm
About two hours later, a third shooting was reported after witnesses saw a suspect wearing black pants get out of a black car in another apartment building and shoot through a third-floor door, police said.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7pm
Authorities said a group of suspects similar to the previous photo used for the alleged shooting stole a Hyundai Elantra from a Motel 6 parking lot, and another incident was reported 90 minutes later.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:49 pm
Authorities said the suspect fired a gun at the Austin Fire Department station while firefighters were inside. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:55 pm
Six minutes later, authorities received a report that suspects matching the same description had fired shots from their car and hit the window of a parked car. One victim inside the car was injured by broken glass, according to police.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:50 am
Police said the suspects were suspected of stealing another vehicle, and authorities found the previous bullet-riddled vehicle abandoned near 1800 E. Stassney Lane hours later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8:46 am
Authorities received a report of a victim shot in the back and abdomen near 7409 Janes Ranch Road by a suspect who matched previous witness descriptions of the alleged shooting.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 9 am
A short time later, police found other stolen vehicles believed to be connected to the alleged shooting.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:46 am
A second incident involving a shooting at another Austin Fire Department station was reported to authorities, and the suspects allegedly stole another vehicle — a white Kia Optima — three hours later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:44 pm
Authorities say two victims were shot in a shooting involving a white Kia Optima, and two shootings were reported within 20 minutes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 2:29 pm
Authorities said surveillance footage showed a white Kia sedan approaching the victim before the victim fell to the ground with a gunshot wound. The deceased was then taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:23 pm
One hour later, Manor police officers spotted a Kia sedan believed to be connected to the alleged shooting, which led to the three suspects getting out and leaving the car and fleeing on foot.
One suspect was immediately arrested, and authorities detained two others separately after a short search.
These incidents resulted in injuries to four people and five vehicles, said the police.
“At this time, investigators believe these incidents were a mixture of random and targeted shootings,” APD said in a statement. “Some of the victims were known to the suspects, while other incidents seemed to have happened without any contact.”
Davis went on to say that the investigation is “complex” due to the number of crime scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings throughout the city.
Official charges against the three suspects are pending, but are expected to include aggravated assault, aggravated assault/vehicular, manslaughter, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, theft of a firearm and other related charges, APD said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment.
