Parents speak out after shots fired at UT apartment complex

Chaos erupts after shots were fired near The Nine apartment complex on the west campus side of the University of Texas at Austin.

According to the UT Police Department, the Austin Police Department alerted them at 2:30 am on June 8th about this incident on 2500 Leon Street.

Luckily no one was hurt, but it doesn't stop the outcry of parents and students.

"Whose child is it? Whose child is not coming back to them?" Joell McNew said. "We've already lost two students, we have many that have been assaulted. But what is it going to take? How many students need to die before this is addressed?”

McNew is the president of SafeHorns, a private coalition of concerned parents, stakeholders and citizens who push to improve safety and security conditions for the UT community.

"We've been advocating for 4 years now, we haven't seen a response from the city, it is a city area," McNew said. "Does the mayor hear shots fired right outside his front door? I don't think so and if he did it would be addressed."

McNew says SafeHorns is thankful no one was hurt, but she's grateful there was video sent to the organization to bring awareness that campus and off campus housing does have safety issues.

Many students and parents said they were afraid to go on camera because they're afraid for their safety. Jeff, the parent of a UT senior, gave a statement:

"I mean, it's unreal. It does not look like Austin, Texas," McNew said. "It doesn't look like the University of Texas at Austin student housing. I mean these are students 18 to 24 years old."