A former Travis County Sheriff’s Office detective is accused of killing his wife, daughter, and the girl’s boyfriend on Sunday. The gunman, Stephen Broderick, was captured after a manhunt.
The Austin Police Department has identified the three victims from the shooting as Amanda Broderick, Alyssa Marie Broderick and Willie Simmons III.
The following is a summary of events from Austin Police: On Sunday, April 18, 2021, 911 received multiple calls about shots fired at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway in northwest Austin. The initial call was received as an active shooter near 9600 Great Hills Trail. Upon arrival, Austin Police Department (APD) officers located three victims that had been shot lying near two vehicles that appeared to have been involved in a crash. Austin-Travis County EMS and Austin Fire Department personnel also responded and attempted life-saving measures, but all three people, were pronounced deceased on scene.
Homicide investigators and crime scene technicians arrived to continue the investigation and process the scene. Information gathered from witnesses indicated that the parties were known to one another and law enforcement were able to quickly identify Stephen Broderick, Amanda Broderick’s former husband, as the suspect.
The investigation revealed that Ms. Broderick and the suspect were meeting for a scheduled visit with their son when the collision occurred, and Mr. Broderick fired shots, killing all three victims, before fleeing the scene. The couple’s son, who was present during the shooting, but physically unharmed, was later located away from the scene where he was turned over to APD officers.
As the investigation progressed, detectives were able to secure an arrest warrant for Stephen Broderick. At approximately 7 a.m. on April 19, 2021, Travis County Sheriff’s Office deputies took Mr. Broderick into custody in the 12300 block of Kimbro Road. Broderick was transported to Travis County Jail where he is facing charges for Capital Murder.
“I am incredibly grateful for all of the assistance provided by our law enforcement partners that came to our aid yesterday. This is a tragic incident that has deeply impacted our community, and I’m glad to report that the suspect has been taken into custody without incident, and with no additional loss of life. A special thank you to Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs with the FBI for their strong support, as well as the citizen who spotted the suspect this morning that led to his capture.” Interim Chief Chacon said.
A clear motive has not yet been determined.
Broderick had previously stepped down from his job after he was accused of molesting a 16-year-old relative last year, the Austin American-Statesman reported. He was arrested for sexual assault of a child in 2020 and was released on $50,000 bond.
Simmons was a high school football star and had signed to play at the University of North Texas.
Alyssa was also a student athlete, enrolled in our Early College High School program and played on the girls’ basketball team.
