Austin, TX
Texas active shooter alert system has yet to be activated, DPS says
AUSTIN (KXAN) — An alert system meant to notify people of active shooter situations was not activated in the wake of a deadly shooting at a Juneteenth event in Round Rock, law enforcement confirmed to KXAN investigators.
Two people died and 14 others were injured in the incident, sparked by a fight between two groups at the event at Old Settlers Park on Saturday night, Round Rock police said. Police are still searching for the shooting suspect.
A spokesperson for the department said it did not try to activate the Active Shooter Alert System at the time of the shooting because it determined the incident did not meet the criteria required by Texas law for activation.
In fact, the Texas Department of Public Safety said it has yet to receive a request for the system’s activation since its creation in 2021, despite its stated goal of “saving lives and preventing mass violence.”
Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) filed legislation to create the system in the wake of a mass shooting that killed seven people and injured 25 others in Odessa in 2019.
It is designed to alert people near active shooter situations through their phones, as well as local broadcast media, the electronic signs on state highways known as “dynamic message signs” and other resources. The idea was to model the warning system after other emergency alerts, such as those used to notify people of abducted children (AMBER Alerts), missing seniors (Silver Alerts), or when members of law enforcement are critically injured (Blue Alerts).
Law enforcement agencies have to request the Active Shooter Alert System’s activation, and the incident must meet several specific criteria:
- An active shooter is in the requesting agency’s jurisdiction
- There is a determination that an Active Shooter Alert would assist individuals near the active shooter’s location
- Verification exists of the active shooter situation through a preliminary investigation by the requesting agency
- The active shooter’s last known location is identifiable
Texas Representative Vikki Goodwin told KXAN she believes it is “tragic” that the system is not being utilized.
“We pass laws to make people safer. This one in particular to let people know if there is an active shooting event going on so they can take precaution,” Goodwin told KXAN. “Nobody was aware that this shooting was going on. Some people said they thought it was fireworks, at first, but then they saw people running. So, I think it would have been helpful for an alert to go out.”
Rep. Goodwin said she believes there is an increased need for public awareness in cases where the suspect has not been apprehended. She first spoke out about the use of this system in December 2023, after a suspect allegedly shot and killed several people in different locations across Travis and Bexar Counties.
At the time, Austin police said they did not request the Active Shooter Alert System because the situation was not an “active shooting event.”
A spokesperson said, “This was a series of events which took place in several different locations across the city with various or unknown motives and no specific commonality. It is not common practice for APD, or any other law enforcement agency, to issue any sort of alert for every shooting that happens in their jurisdiction with an unidentified shooter.”
Goodwin said she met with DPS and APD to discuss how to use it better, but she “did not really see any appetite for doing that.”
She has heard concerns from law enforcement that people might be “inundated” with alerts and then become numb or desensitized. However, she feels there could be more narrow parameters or guidelines around when the system is activated.
“We get a lot of AMBER Alerts, and so we feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, another amber alert.’ But yet, that one alert at the right moment for the right person might save a life, so why not.”
Austin, TX
Minor arrested in double-fatal shooting in Williamson County
Accident or crime scene cordon tape, police line do not cross. via Getty Images
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – A juvenile has been arrested Saturday after an early morning double-homicide near Round Rock.
The situation ended after officials successfully negotiated a barricade situation with the minor, they say.
Williamson County double-homicide
What we know:
Williamson County authorities got the shooting call around 2 a.m. from the 8900 block of Brushy Gate Cove, outside the Round Rock city limits.
Williamson County sheriff’s deputies found two men dead of gunshot wounds at the scene. The suspect was barricaded inside a bedroom in the home.
Williamson County SWAT and crisis negotiators responded, and the suspect peacefully surrendered around 6:30 a.m.
Officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Williamson County officials comment
What they’re saying:
“On our arrival, we found two deceased people from the residence, adult males,” said Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Anytime you have a barricaded subject inside of a home where we believe two people are deceased, you know, we’re going to take all precautionary measures that we can to ensure our safety and the safety of the neighbors as well,” said Foster.
Investigators say everyone involved resided in the house and that this was an isolated incident.
“Information is going to be very limited, because this is a juvenile investigation, and certain laws protect certain information regarding juveniles,” said Foster.
What we don’t know:
The identity of the minor suspect has not been released.
The victims were not identified.
The motive behind the shooting has not been commented on.
The Source: Information in this article came from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
Austin, TX
Camera Sensor for iPhone 18 Camera to be Made by Samsung in Austin, TX Facility
Samsung is taking steps to provide Apple with image sensors built with advanced technology for iPhones. Reportedly, the sensors for the iPhone will be manufactured in Samsung’s current Austin, Texas facility, and the company is anticipated to soon have production equipment installed for the upcoming project.
The image sensor of the iPhone is expected to have a three-stack design for better low-light performance and a higher density of pixels with multiple layers stacked vertically. This results in less power consumption, a dynamic range that’s higher, and faster speeds for readouts.
It’s believed that the new sensor will be made for the upcoming iPhone 18 in 2027. Apple and Samsung have reportedly arrived at a deal where Samsung will be supplying the component for the sensor. This marks the first occasion Apple will be going with another company apart from Sony as their main supplier for image sensors for its iPhones.
Austin, TX
Arch Manning Shares Why He Is Staying With Texas
Texas football has lost its fair share of players to the NFL draft and transfer portal over the past few weeks, dwindling the roster. Despite the loss of a few big names such as linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe and others, the Longhorns have held onto star quarterback Arch Manning.
While it was unlikely that Manning would enter the portal, there was some hype surrounding the possibility of the first-year starter entering the NFL Draft. Why did the young star decide to forego the pros? According to Manning, his journey at Texas isn’t quite finished.
Manning Wants to Continue His Development With Texas
“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going,” Manning said, according to Inside Texas’s Evan Vieth. “There’s no reason to leave. I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and excited to still be a part of this team.”
Manning didn’t quite have the season that most fans and analysts envisioned for him, struggling at the start of the year. Despite these struggles, Manning went on to improve throughout the regular season, demonstrating why he is one of the nation’s top quarterback talents.
At the start of the season, Manning’s accuracy and timing were a bit off. The offense as a whole seemed out of sync, and Texas was not looking like the powerhouse that was promised heading into the season.
Eventually, though, Manning found his stride, and more than just improving his stats, the Longhorn quarterback looked more comfortable. Eventually, the stat sheet reflected his improvements, posting 1,625 passing yards over the last six games of the season, alongside 16 total touchdowns.
Now, returning to Texas for what will likely be his last year in college before departing for the NFL, next season should be an exciting one for the Longhorns. Not only is Manning more experienced as the team’s top quarterback, but the wide receiving core will have developed as well.
Texas wide receivers had their struggles with drops this season, but showed improvements at some points throughout the year.
Though it may be difficult to abstain from declaring for the draft, ultimately Manning made perhaps the best decision for his career and development. With another year to grow, by the time he enters the NFL, Manning will be much more experienced and likely better prepared.
Manning will have one more chance to take the field this season in the upcoming Citrus Bowl, where Texas will take on the Michigan Wolverines on December 31.
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