Man dies trying to protect others at Halloween party shooting
AUSTIN, Texas - Police said one of the four victims shot at a Halloween party in North Austin over the weekend has died.
We're also learning more about the gunman, who was dressed as Santa Claus at the time and is now behind bars.
A Halloween party took a violent turn over the weekend when a man dressed as Santa Claus started shooting.
"I heard gun shots. I didn't think anything of it, it's Halloween weekend. I was like, someone had firecrackers left over or whatever," said Cody Seigmund, neighbor.
Police say 32-year-old Randall Gaston Jones shot four people, killing one. This happened around 6:00 Sunday morning at a home in the 5500 block of Avenue F. Cody Seigmund lives down the street. He tells FOX 7 that he's friends with the woman who threw the party, who is in serious condition.
"Hopefully she pulls through because she is just...she's a delightful person, she's very nice, very giving, very caring. She would do anything for anybody," said Seigmund.
Police said Jones lived at the home and was asked to go to his room after others at the party noticed he was intoxicated.
"She has two extra rooms in the house and she rents them out accordingly. So I don't know, I haven't spent time at her place in a while so I didn't know if she had a new roommate or what," said Seigmund.
Jones went to his room but reportedly returned with a firearm and fired one shot into the ground. That's when Michael McCloskey, another victim, tried to stop things from further escalating.
"While everybody else scattered, Michael went after Jones in an attempt to protect everybody. During the disturbance, several shots were fired," said Lt. Jason Staniszewski, Austin Police Department.
He ended up dying from his injuries. Police say McCloskey and the alleged gunman did not know each other, he came to the party with someone else. When police arrived, Jones was actually at a neighbors house. Investigators said he was in costume and a handgun was found on the ground.
The entire community is shaken up.
"The safety of my children, that was definitely hard to hear about, the safety of my neighbors as well and the victims who were involved," said Amber Williard, neighbor.
Seigmund is hoping that his friend will recover and that senseless acts of violence will come to an end.
"The open carry thing - you're more prompt to use it if it's on your person. I think that's the worst thing about it. I think we should have that freedom but maybe not everybody who hasn't been skillfully trained," said Seigmund.
APD said Jones faces a murder charge and multiple assault charges.