Gun Store Owner Says Employee Was 1-Against-12 Before Fatal Austin Club Shooting: “He Had No Choice”
The owner of a Central Texas gun store is publicly standing behind two of his employees after a fatal shooting outside an East Austin club Friday night left one person dead and multiple others injured, as the employee who fired is now facing a murder charge.
As reported by CBS Austin, the shooting occurred around 8:45 p.m. outside Cabana Club on 7th Street. Nearby business owner Jerry Musick recorded video from his shop shortly after the incident and described seeing a man clutching his stomach and others fleeing the scene. He and residents in an adjacent apartment complex reported hearing three to four shots.
On Saturday, Michael Cargill, owner of Central Texas Gun Works, held a press conference to address what happened. He said his two employees — an assistant manager and a sales clerk — had just arrived at the bar to spend time off the clock when the situation unfolded.
According to Cargill, a group that had been kicked out of the club earlier that night was still in the parking lot when his employees pulled up. That group allegedly mistook the two men for someone involved in an earlier dispute inside the bar. What followed, Cargill said, was an immediate and coordinated attack.
“You had 12 people that jumped on my employees,” Cargill said. He said one employee was knocked to the ground, beaten for roughly a minute, and eventually lost consciousness. His injuries include a skull fracture, a swollen and shut eye, and bruised ribs. The second employee, watching his coworker go unconscious while the assault continued, made the decision to draw his firearm.
“My employee thought that my other employee was getting ready to get killed because he had lost consciousness and they continued to pound on him,” Cargill said. “He had no choice but to pull his gun out and defend himself.”
After firing, Cargill said the employee left the scene because a dozen people were still present, then sought medical treatment at urgent care before going to St. David’s South First Hospital. He is now in custody at Travis County Jail on a murder charge. The employee who was beaten is recovering at home.
Cargill said he is providing full legal support to both employees. “I’ve made sure that my employees are covered by our attorneys,” he said. “My employees did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
Austin police have not confirmed whether the shooting was self-defense. Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock noted that investigators will consider multiple factors, including what preceded the incident, who initiated the confrontation, and the location of events.
As reported by CBS Austin, the shooting occurred around 8:45 p.m. outside Cabana Club on 7th Street. Nearby business owner Jerry Musick recorded video from his shop shortly after the incident and described seeing a man clutching his stomach and others fleeing the scene. He and residents in an adjacent apartment complex reported hearing three to four shots.
On Saturday, Michael Cargill, owner of Central Texas Gun Works, held a press conference to address what happened. He said his two employees — an assistant manager and a sales clerk — had just arrived at the bar to spend time off the clock when the situation unfolded.
According to Cargill, a group that had been kicked out of the club earlier that night was still in the parking lot when his employees pulled up. That group allegedly mistook the two men for someone involved in an earlier dispute inside the bar. What followed, Cargill said, was an immediate and coordinated attack.
“You had 12 people that jumped on my employees,” Cargill said. He said one employee was knocked to the ground, beaten for roughly a minute, and eventually lost consciousness. His injuries include a skull fracture, a swollen and shut eye, and bruised ribs. The second employee, watching his coworker go unconscious while the assault continued, made the decision to draw his firearm.
“My employee thought that my other employee was getting ready to get killed because he had lost consciousness and they continued to pound on him,” Cargill said. “He had no choice but to pull his gun out and defend himself.”
After firing, Cargill said the employee left the scene because a dozen people were still present, then sought medical treatment at urgent care before going to St. David’s South First Hospital. He is now in custody at Travis County Jail on a murder charge. The employee who was beaten is recovering at home.
Cargill said he is providing full legal support to both employees. “I’ve made sure that my employees are covered by our attorneys,” he said. “My employees did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
Austin police have not confirmed whether the shooting was self-defense. Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock noted that investigators will consider multiple factors, including what preceded the incident, who initiated the confrontation, and the location of events.
70-79, M
