Suspect said he shot teen in leg during June 19 event in Round Rock, police say

A teenager arrested in connection with the mass shooting at the Juneteenth celebration in Round Rock told police he fired his 9mm gun three times at another teenager, wounding him in the leg, according to an arrest affidavit.

Ricky Thompson III, 17, of Manor, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. It is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Two people were killed and 14 others injured during an altercation between two groups during the Juneteenth celebration at Old Settlers Park. Police declined to say what the argument was about.

Part of the argument was between Thompson and a 17-year-old man, according to the affidavit. He said Thompson pulled his gun from his waistband during the altercation and shot the victim, hitting him once in the leg.

The affidavit did not provide details of the argument.

An officer providing security at the event discovered the victim had gone to St. David's Hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound, according to the affidavit.

Thompson's attorney, Amber Vazquez, said Monday that Thompson was also shot in the hand during the mass shooting and had to go to the hospital for surgery. He was not among the 14 people police said were injured in the shooting, she said.

Thompson may have fired his gun in self-defense, but it's not yet clear, Vazquez said.

“I have no reason to believe that he fired shots that killed people,” she said.

She said she didn't know what the argument leading to the shooting was about, but that several people fired shots and she expected more people to be arrested. Police said there was “no indication” that Thompson was a gang member.

Thompson had just finished his junior year at Manor Senior High School when the shooting occurred, Vazquez said.

“Obviously he’s a good kid who’s never been in trouble with the law before,” she said.

She said she didn't know why Thompson brought a gun to the Juneteenth celebration, but that “it's not uncommon for teenagers in Texas to have access to guns.”

“He is now the first person arrested in this deal, and that gives him disproportionate culpability,” Vazquez said. “He's scared; he's a child and he just turned 17. He's in prison and everyone in the country knows why he's there.”

Thompson was being held Monday at the Williamson County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Police arrested a second suspect in the shooting, a juvenile who was taken to the Williamson County Juvenile Justice Center.

Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks said there was more than one shooter at the event and authorities continue to investigate. The two bystanders who were killed were Ara Dukes, a 54-year-old school administrator from Pflugerville, and Lyndsey Vicknair, a 33-year-old attorney and mother of three.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Suspect says he shot teen during Juneteenth event in Round Rock, police say