Police say a 20-year-old in zombie makeup stabbed two people at an Austin coffee shop, then fled and crashed into an unoccupied robotaxi before getting arrested.
Story Highlights
- Austin police reported two stabbing victims at The Buzz Mill on Oct. 28; both are now stable.
- Officers identified the suspect as Shankar Temple Grace, 20, and filed two aggravated assault charges.
- Police said the fleeing pickup hit an empty autonomous “robotaxi” during the escape.
- Officers found the suspect on a trail near Rosewood and Chestnut, about three miles away.
Police: Two Stabbed at The Buzz Mill on October 28
Austin police said officers responded to The Buzz Mill, at 1505 Town Creek Drive, around 8:54 p.m. on October 28. Officers found two people with stab wounds, including one described as life-threatening and one as not life-threatening. Medics took both victims to a hospital. Later updates said both victims were in stable condition. The coffee shop sits in southeast Austin near Lady Bird Lake, and the attack reportedly unfolded as Halloween events filled the city that night.
Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Shankar Temple Grace. Reports said officers booked Grace into the Travis County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Those charges are serious felonies in Texas and can carry long prison terms if a court finds guilt. Law enforcement has not released a motive. Authorities have not shared the victims’ names. Officials did not publish details about the weapon beyond its use in the alleged stabbing.
Flight in a Pickup and a Crash Into a Robotaxi
According to police accounts cited by local outlets, the suspect left the scene in a pickup truck after the attack. During the escape, the pickup struck an unoccupied autonomous vehicle described by some as a robotaxi. Police did not say who owns or operates the robotaxi. Officers did not report injuries from the collision, since the vehicle was empty. The crash added a striking detail to an already jarring crime on a busy Austin evening.
After the collision, reports said the suspect ran from the pickup and fled on foot. Officers later found a man on a walking trail near Rosewood Avenue and Chestnut Avenue. That area is roughly three miles from The Buzz Mill location. Police said the person matched the description and was taken into custody. The timeline covered less than a night, from the first 911 call to the arrest and booking reported by local media.
Victim Status, Charges, and Next Legal Steps
Emergency crews moved fast to treat the two injured people. Police and local outlets reported that one victim had life-threatening wounds and the other did not. Later reports said both stabilized after hospital care. In Texas, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon can include any assault causing serious injury or involving a weapon. A court process will now decide how the case proceeds and whether evidence supports the charges through trial or plea.
Authorities publicly named Grace and the two charges. That signals a high level of confidence in probable cause at the arrest stage. It does not decide guilt. Prosecutors will file their case in Travis County. Defense counsel will review evidence and may seek bond changes or discovery. Courts will set hearings, and witnesses may testify about the scene, the escape, and the arrest. That process will determine outcomes, including any sentence if there is a conviction.
Why This Case Drew Attention in Austin
Police and local outlets said the attacker wore zombie makeup tied to Halloween activities. The unusual costume, the knife use, and the robotaxi crash made the story stand out. Local stations highlighted the unoccupied autonomous vehicle because that detail is rare and newsworthy. Police reports cited by outlets provided the backbone of the timeline: the coffee shop scene, the pickup escape, the robotaxi crash, and the trail arrest a few miles away from the original location.
For families, this is another reminder to stay alert in public spaces. Quick police work and emergency care kept a bad scene from getting worse. The victims are stable, and a suspect now faces the courts. That is what justice should look like: protect the public, arrest the suspect, and let the legal system do its job. As Austin grows, clear policing and firm prosecution matter to keep streets, shops, and community events safe for everyone.
Sources:
whmi.com, kxan.com, statesman.com, fox4news.com
