What we know about Austin shooting suspect Stephen Broderick
Medics have pronounced three people dead at the scene of a shooting in Northwest Austin, Austin-Travis County EMS said Sunday. Police said the shooting stemmed from a domestic situation, and it sparked a manhunt that ended Monday when he was arrested near Manor.
The suspect has been identified by officials as 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick of Elgin. Here's what we know about the suspected shooter.
Who is Stephen Nicholas Broderick?
Records show Stephen Broderick is a former Travis County Sheriff's Office detective, who began with the department on March 16, 2008. While Interim Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon said Broderick might have a background in law enforcement, he would not confirm.
Broderick was accused of sexually assaulting a child in June of 2020. He was 40 years old at the time of his arrest.
The arrest affidavit said the assault happened at a home in Elgin. The victim made an outcry to her mother, who took the child for an examination and doctors confirmed the abuse.
Broderick was arrested on June 6 by the U.S. Marshals Service and charged with sexual assault of a child. He was placed on administrative leave without pay.
Broderick was booked into jail and spent 16 days behind bars prior to posting bail, which was set at $50,000.
Broderick, a property crimes detective, resigned after his arrest, according to Travis County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kristen Dark.
Court and public records show that Broderick's wife filed for a protective order and divorce shortly after her husband's arrest.
Austin shooting suspect:Travis County sheriff’s detective accused in sex assault of teen
Broderick involved in 2013 shooting
On March 12, 2013, Broderick was one of two officers involved in shooting and critically injuring an elderly Del Valle man.
He was placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation, according to the Bastrop County sheriff’s office at the time of the incident.
The shooting occurred after deputies arrived at a home in the 100 block of Stony Mont Drive in response to a call about a family disturbance. Upon arrival, they saw 78-year-old Jose Manuel Cantu holding a firearm outside of his house, according to a 2013 news release from the sheriff’s office.
The deputies repeatedly told Cantu to drop the weapon, which he disregarded, the release said. It said Cantu pointed the weapon at the deputies, who then fired at Cantu, striking him.
A neighbor, Joe Haros, said that a neighborhood watch group had been created to improve communications with the sheriff’s office and to “clean up” the Stony Point area where the shooting occurred.
He said his neighbors have a history of distrust with the officers, who Haros said have a tendency to harass them. He also said that he has filed complaints about Broderick before.
Haros accused the officers of being “trigger happy.”
Austin shooting suspect arrested Monday
Police arrested Broderick early Monday. He was arrested without incident near Manor after receiving a 911 call about a man walking along U.S. 290.
This story will be updated as we learn more about the suspect.
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