Three people were hospitalized Friday morning after a struggle between a security guard and a diner at Caritas of Austin’s community kitchen ended in gunfire.

Austin-Travis County EMS medics and police were called to the 600 block of Neches Street around 12:34 p.m. and found a man in his 30s with a gunshot wound that was not considered life-threatening, according to EMS officials. The others who were hospitalized were not shot, medics said.

“While this incident was unfortunate and highly unusual, we are thankful the situation was not worse,” Caritas said in a statement Friday.



Amy Jackson, director of development for Caritas of Austin, said the security guard’s weapon inadvertently went off during the struggle. It was unclear who was shot during the incident.

Austin police said they took one person into custody.

Jackson said the kitchen will be closed on Monday and Tuesday as a result of the shooting.

“We’re going to review security issues and let the police do their work,” she said.