Lyndsey Vicknair, 33, of Manor was a rising lawyer at an Austin law firm, a wife and the mother of three young children. Ara Duke, 54, of Pflugerville was an educational administrator at an Austin school who was expecting her first grandchild.
Round Rock police on Monday identified the two women as the victims of afatal shooting Saturday night at a Juneteenth celebration that also injured more than a dozen people.
Vicknair and Duke died after an argument between two groups attending the event escalated into a shooting about 10:50 p.m., police have said. They said Vicknair and Duke had been attending the celebration and were not associated with the altercation that preceded the shooting. Both victims were declared dead at the scene, Melanie Forcier, a police spokesperson, confirmed.
Duke was an administrator atIDEA Public Schools at its Rundberg campus in North Austin, said her cousin Xavier Walker. She was planning to help her pregnant daughter move to London in late June, Walker said Monday.
“She was really excited to become a grandmother for the first time,” he said. “She was very outgoing and had such a giving heart,” Walker said. “She lit up every room she walked into. You could just look at her beaming smile and know she was beaming with radiant love.”
Walker said Duke’s family has received dozens of messages from staff members at the school. “They said she was the heart of the school and the soul of the campus,” he said.
Duke was at the Juneteenth festival with her husband, Walker said. He said she wassitting in a lawn chair when she was shot.
One of Duke’s neighbors, Pflugerville City Council Member Rudy Metayer, said she loved her community and her family.
"I can't tell you how many times she would bring other people's concerns to my attention," Metayer said.
Walker said donations can be made in Duke’s memory to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a nonprofit that operates in Latin America and the Caribbean to help children overcome poverty, and tothe Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Donations should be made with a note that says “In Memory of Ara Duke.”
Vicknair was a construction lawyer with the Chapman Firm in Austin, Metayer said.
"She was a phenomenal attorney," he said. "She was smart, intelligent, giving, a wonderful mother who cared about her community."
Vicknair was named a Texas Super Lawyer“Rising Star” in the area of construction litigation in 2023 by Super Lawyers magazine, according to the Chapman Firm website. It also said Vicknair and her husband made "an effort to give back to the community by organizing fundraisers, food drives and attending other community outreach events."
A representative for the Chapman Firm declined to comment Monday.
Metayer said the African American community in Central Texas is a "very connected community," even though people live in different towns.
"When something like this happens," he said, "it should be a reminder of how interconnected everybody is."
The deaths of his friends have made him angry and sad, Metayer said.
"I'm holding compassion for the ones left behind, for their families," he said. "I want justice for what happened to them, and as a City Council member, I couldn't be more proud of how (Round Rock) Mayor (Craig) Morgan and (Police) Chief Allen Banks handled this situation."
Fourteen other people were injured in the shooting and were taken to hospitals for treatment. All suffered gunshot wounds, Forcier said.
The victims range in age from 10 to 52, Banks said Sunday. Most had returned home from the hospital as of Sunday evening, and the rest were in stable condition and expected to be released "within the next day or so," he said.
Previous:Two people killed, several wounded in shooting at Juneteenth celebration in Round Rock
The free Juneteenth celebration Friday and Saturday at the Lakeview Pavilion and festival area in Old Settlers Park was sponsored by The Voice Inc., a nonprofit, and the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department. Thousands attended the event, though Banks did not know the exact number of attendees. The Voice Inc. did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
"Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of innocent lives and the injuries sustained by several others in Saturday's senseless act of violence. Our deepest condolences go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community and will work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice," Banks said. "Together, we will stand strong and support one another during this difficult time for our community."
In a statement Sunday, Morgan denounced the shooting and said the community stands in support of the victims.
"To the families who are mourning the loss of loved ones, please know that our entire community mourns with you," Morgan said. "We are a community that values safety, celebration and unity, and we are committed to ensuring that our community heals through this event together. We will not let this incident define us, nor will we let fear take hold."
The Austin Justice Coalition, a group that advocates for minorities, released a statement in response to the shooting.
"This tragic event underscores the urgent need to address the pervasive culture of violence and systemic inequities that continue to plague our society," Chas Moore, the group's founder, said in the statement. "While we mourn this loss, we must also confront the root causes that allow such tragedies to occur. Gun violence is not an isolated issue but a symptom of deeper societal failings, including systemic racism, economic inequality, and a lack of access to mental health resources."
Moore encouraged members of the public, activists and allies to join together to make future community events safe and peaceful.
In Washington, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre commented on the mass shootings in Round Rock and another over the weekend at a splash pad in Michigan.
“The president has been tracking these tragedies. We are praying for the families who lost loved ones to these senseless (acts of) violence and wishing all those injured a speedy recovery," she said. "Our team is in contact with state and local officials. As the president has said, this is not normal, and Congress must act."
Gunman at large 'armed and dangerous'
The shooter has not yet been apprehended. At a news conference Sunday evening, Banks described him as 19 or 20 years old and 5 feet 7, with short dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a white hoodie.
Banks said anyone who comes into contact with the man should contact police immediately and not approach him, as he is believed to be "armed and dangerous."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest of the gunman.
The Round Rock Police Department is being aided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an FBI spokesperson confirmed Sunday.
Anyone with knowledge or information is asked to contact Detective Richard Maio at 512-341-3135 or rmaio@roundrocktexas.gov. Members of the public are encouraged to upload any photos or video evidence using a provided link: https://roundrockpdtx.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/2406150024
What we know:2 killed, 14 injured in shooting at Juneteenth celebration in Texas
Round Rock offers mental health resources to public
Police had an operations plan for the Juneteenth event, as Old Settlers Park is an open park with no security point, Banks said. More than 22 law enforcement officers were assigned to the event, as well as members of the Round Rock Fire Department and EMS, he said. Officers and volunteers were spread throughout the park, and some officers were also overseeing the crowd from surveillance towers.
The city is providing mental health support to the public through the Round Rock Fire Department's Crisis Response Unit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday. They can be contacted at 512-218-5501.
