Two Teens Arrested in 10 "Random" Shootings, Austin Weekend Terror | Crime Alert 05.18.26

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace:

Two Teens Arrested in 10 "Random" Shootings, Austin Weekend Terror
Episode Date: May 18, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace / Crime Alert Update with Sydney Silvani

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a gripping look at two major breaking crime stories:

1. A wave of random shootings across Austin, Texas, allegedly perpetuated by two teenage suspects, which left the community reeling and emergency services directly targeted.
2. Rising outrage at UC Santa Barbara, where parents are demanding outside intervention in the investigation of a brutal campus rape, citing erosion of trust in campus police.

Throughout, the tone remains urgent, factual, and investigative, with key input from law enforcement representatives, legal advocates, and family lawyers.

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Segment 1: Austin’s String of Random Shootings

Key Points & Discussion

• [00:39] Sydney Silvani breaks the news: Two teen males (ages 17 and 15) are arrested in connection with up to 10 random shootings in Austin. A third suspect remains at large, believed to be near Manor.
• The string of attacks injured four people and included shots fired at two fire stations, elevating community anxiety.
• No clear motive has been identified; Austin officials emphasize the randomness and apparent lack of targeting.
• Notable Quote:
  • "Astonishingly, police are still searching for a third suspect who remains at large and is believed to be near the suburb of Manor." – Sydney Silvani (00:54)
• Two fire stations (Station 26, Station 32) were targeted between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
• Sequence of Events:
  • [01:47] First shooting: 9pm Saturday, Wentworth Drive, Fire Station 26.
  • [01:55] Second incident: 8am Sunday, Jane's Ranch Road (male victim, hospitalized, serious but stable).
  • [02:04] Third: Less than three hours later, Fire Station 32, Montebello Road.
• Austin Firefighters’ Response:
  • "These actions appear to be random.” – Austin Fire Department Rep. (01:41)
  • “Crews remain in full force responding to every call without hesitation.” – David Gerard, President, Austin Firefighters Association (02:16)
• Suspect details:
  • 17-year-old: Active warrant for gun theft.
  • 15-year-old: Accused of stealing a firearm.
  • Both: Accused of stealing four separate vehicles during the spree.
• Community Impact:
  • Shelter-in-place in South Austin lifted post-arrest, but Manor and Travis County residents urged to remain vigilant and indoors.
  • Auto theft is highlighted as the initial catalyst for the spree.
    • “Chief Lisa Davis strictly warned residents to lock their vehicles as auto theft acted as the catalyst for this entire shooting streak.” (02:53)
• [03:09] Vehicle Descriptions:
  • Black/dark blue Hyundai, gold Hyundai sedan, silver Mazda four-door, and white Kia Optima (still sought).
• [03:22] Hotline for tips and Crime Stoppers reward mentioned.

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Segment 2: Outrage over Campus Assault Investigation at UCSB

Key Points & Discussion

• [04:50] Coverage shifts to UC Santa Barbara, where parents of a student who was brutally raped and strangled near campus demand that outside authorities take over the case.
• Incident Background:
  • Assault occurred May 10, 10pm, after victim met suspect at a party in Isla Vista.
  • Attacker remains unidentified, fueling fear and skepticism in the community.
• Family Response:
  • Victim’s family publicly demands the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department take over, stating they lack confidence in the campus police.
  • Notable Quote:
    • "Our singular focus remains seeing this monster behind bars." – Victim’s family statement (05:00)
  • Family attorney Tyrone Maho and private investigator Michael Claytor hired; both question the campus police department’s resources and capability.
  • Historical context: Reference to unresolved 2025 case of Elizabeth Hamill, which continues to cast doubt on local law enforcement.
• Attorney’s Plea:
  • "We're pleading with the chancellor, please request the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department to help with this investigation, to help apprehend this person immediately. The community is not safe.” – Tyrone Maho (06:04)
  • “We're just asking that they get assistance from a department that's bigger, more capable... with the experience to do so.” (06:13)
• Private Investigator on Witnesses:
  • "Remember, it might be enough just to say I saw this and then they can then put the pieces together themselves. They're not going to need to use you to testify or anything like that." – Michael Claytor (06:54)
• Criticism of UCSB Chancellor Dennis Assanis:
  • Maho points to prior controversies regarding handling of sexual misconduct and accuses the Chancellor of “refusing to speak with the family’s legal team." (07:06)
• Campus police response:
  • Cite federal privacy laws limiting what they can share, maintain they are fully accredited and actively investigating every tip.
• Anonymous tips encouraged to UCSB police at 805-893-7274.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Astonishingly, police are still searching for a third suspect who remains at large and is believed to be near the suburb of Manor."
  — Sydney Silvani, [00:54]

• "These actions appear to be random."
  — Austin Fire Department Representative, [01:41]

• "Crews remain in full force responding to every call without hesitation."
  — David Gerard, Austin Firefighters Association President [02:16]

• "Chief Lisa Davis strictly warned residents to lock their vehicles as auto theft acted as the catalyst for this entire shooting streak."
  — Sydney Silvani, [02:53]

• "Our singular focus remains seeing this monster behind bars."
  — UCSB rape victim’s family statement, [05:00]

• "We're pleading with the chancellor, please request the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department to help with this investigation, to help apprehend this person immediately. The community is not safe."
  — Attorney Tyrone Maho, [06:04]

• "Remember, it might be enough just to say I saw this and then they can then put the pieces together themselves."
  — Private Investigator Michael Claytor, [06:54]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:39]: Breaking news – Austin shooting suspects arrested
• [01:28–02:20]: Details on fire station attacks and timeline of violence
• [03:09]: Suspect vehicle descriptions & community warning
• [04:50]: Update on outrage at UCSB handling of sexual assault
• [06:04–06:54]: Attorney and Private Investigator statements on the need for outside help and public assistance
• [07:06]: Criticism of Chancellor and campus police response

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Summary

This episode highlights the volatility and randomness of recent violent crime in Austin, emphasizing the ripple effects on emergency services and the general public. It also underscores systemic challenges in campus law enforcement, with heartfelt appeals from families and legal advocates demanding accountability and more robust investigatory resources at UC Santa Barbara. Throughout, the language is direct, factual, and often urgent, reflecting the seriousness of both ongoing situations. The episode calls for public vigilance, cooperation, and information sharing to bring perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of safety to affected communities.

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Transcript

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Crime Alert Hourly Update Breaking crime news now.

[Sydney Silvani]

I'm Sydney Silvani. Authorities in Austin have arrested two teenage suspects in connection with a terrifying series of shootings that spanned across the city, leaving four people injured and an entire community on high alert. Austin PD Chief Lisa Davis announced during a Sunday press conference that a 17 and 15 year old boy have been taken into custody. Investigators believe the pair are responsible for as many as 10 separate attacks across the city over Saturday and Sunday. Astonishingly, police are still searching for a third suspect who remains at large and is believed to be near the suburb of Manor. According to Mayor Kirk Watson, the wave of violence appeared completely indiscriminate, targeting unsuspecting citizens and even emergency responders. Two of the targeted locations were Austin Fire Department stations.

[Austin Fire Department Representative]

We are reporting multiple shootings throughout the area. Two of those have been at our fire station at 2 Austin Fire Department stations. These are occurring primarily in South Austin and we don't have any specific motive that has been identified. In fact, these actions appear to be random.

[Sydney Silvani]

The Violence began around 9pm Saturday on the 6700 block of Wentworth Drive in East Austin when a suspect opened fire directly toward Fire Station 26. The next morning, around 8am near the intersection of Jane's Ranch Road and Ballydawn Drive in Southeast Austin, a male victim was shot once. He was rushed to the hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition. Less than three hours later, the shooters struck again, firing rounds toward Fire Station 32 in the 2800 block of Montebello Road. Austin FD confirmed that no firefighters were injured. David Gerard, the president of the Austin Firefighters association, released a statement emphasizing that the attacks have not hindered their emergency operations, stating that crews remain in full force responding to every call without hesitation. We've learned the 17 year old suspect already had an active warrant for gun theft, while the 15 year old is accused of stealing a firearm On Saturday, the teenagers are also accused of stealing four separate vehicles during the violent spree. Following the arrests, a shelter in place order for South Austin was lifted, though the Manor Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff's Office urge residents in their jurisdictions to remain indoors during the manhunt for the third suspect, Chief Lisa Davis strictly warned residents to lock their vehicles as auto theft acted as the catalyst for this entire shooting streak.

[Austin Police Department Representative]

At this point, we know the suspect's vehicles used in this incident have included a black or dark blue Hyundai, a gold Hyundai sedan, a silver Mazda four door and a white Kia Optima, which APD is currently looking for.

[Sydney Silvani]

Anyone with information is urged to contact Austin PD at 512-974-51771 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 is available for tips leading to an arrest. More crime and justice news after this

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[Sydney Silvani]

Growing outrage and fear are enveloping the University of California Santa Barbara campus, where an alleged rapist is still on the loose. The parents of a UCSB student who was brutally raped and strangled near campus are demanding that outside law enforcement take over the investigation, expressing severe lack of confidence in the campus police Department. In a statement, the victim's family said, our singular focus remains seeing this monster behind bars. The family has retained attorney Tyrone Maho and private investigator Michael Claytor, fearing that the UCSB Police Department lacks the sophisticated resources required to solve the case. The attacker remains unidentified. The family is formally pressing for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department to intervene. Their profound skepticism is deeply rooted in another unresolved tragedy from last year, the death of 18 year old UCSB freshman Elizabeth Hamill, who died after a fall from a third floor breezeway at San Rafael Residence hall on February 14, 2025. An individual who allegedly witnessed Hamill's fall failed to call 911 and that case remains unresolved Maho, who represents both families, spoke out about the urgent need for a larger agency to step in.

[Attorney Tyrone Maho]

We're pleading with the chancellor, please request the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department to help with this investigation, to help apprehend this person immediately. The community is not safe. I do believe they truly want to find this person and they are doing everything they can. We're just asking that they get assistance. They get assistance from a department that's bigger, more capable, has the resources to do so and has the experience to do so.

[Sydney Silvani]

According to campus Alerts, the horrific assault occurred around 10pm on May 10. The victim and the suspect met earlier that evening at a party in Isla Vista and did not know each other prior to the attack. Private investigator Michael Claytor, a former Santa Barbara police detective, has warned that the public is in active danger until this predator is caught, making a direct plea for any witnesses to come forward.

[Private Investigator Michael Claytor]

Remember, it might be enough just to say I saw this and then they can then put the pieces together themselves. They're not going to need to use you to testify or anything like that. Just give them the direction that you think is important and let them do the rest.

[Sydney Silvani]

Maho also sharply criticized UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Dennis Assanis, citing past controversy over his handling of sexual misconduct cases during his time at the University of Delaware, adding that Assanis has completely refused to speak with the family's legal team. In response, the UCSB Police Department said that federal privacy laws prevent them from sharing specific case details, but defended their agency as a fully accredited, capable law enforcement body that is actively investigating all tips. Anyone with information can contact the UCSB Police department anonymously at 805-893-7274 for the latest crime and justice breaking news. Be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Silvani.

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