Stephen Broderick Indicted By Grand Jury On Capital Murder Charge

AUSTIN, TX — A former Travis County Sheriff's office deputy has been indicted by a Travis County grand jury on a capital murder charge, according to the county district attorney's office.

Stephen Nicholas Broderick, a former property crimes detective with the county, was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury in connection with the deaths of 35-year-old Amanda Broderick, 18-year-old Alyssa Broderick and 18-year-old Willie Simmons III in April, according District Attorney José Garza.

Broderick will be held without bail and his charge will be prosecuted by the office's trial division. The case is pending in the 299th Judicial District Court.

Officials said the 41-year-old has been held without bail in Travis County Jail since his arrest on April 19.

"Under Texas law, a person can be held without bail under limited circumstances," authorities said. "Because Mr. Broderick committed this heinous crime after he paid a money bond to be released on charges related to sexual assault against a child, Texas law permits his detention without bail."

Garza said his office is committed to "doing everything we can" to hold Broderick accountable and ensure that he causes no more to the community.

"My heart continues to break for the victims of this senseless act of violence, their families, and for the anguish of our community,” Garza said.

What we know: Arboretum Shooting

Austin Police Department Interim Chief Joe Chacon told reporters officers received a 911 call around 11:42 a.m. April 18 for a "shoot/stab hotshot," the highest level priority call, in the 9600 block of Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway.

When officers arrived, they found three victims that had appeared to have been shot lying near two vehicles possibly involved in a crash.

Officials with the Austin-Travis County EMS said paramedics had obtained "deceased on scene pronouncements" for three adults at the complex.

Here's the original story: 3 Dead In NW Austin Apartment Shooting; Suspect Identified

Shortly after, police locked down the area and encouraged residents to stay indoors as they searched the area of the shooting suspect. Chacon later told reporters the suspect was identified as Broderick.

After hours of searching for the 41-year-old, the chief of police said authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order around 4:45 p.m. after exhausting resources in the search.

With the FBI involved, he said the search would become a "fugitive search."

On April 19, Broderick was taken into custody without incident in the 12300 block of Kimbro Road near Manor, according to the Austin Police Department and Travis County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the former county deputy was captured after they received 911 reports of a man walking along U.S. Highway 290.

Broderick was released on bond months prior to the April shooting

Broderick spent 16 days in jail last summer on charges of sexually assaulting a child.

He posted bail, which was set at $50,000, on June 22, 2020, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The courts ordered him not to contact or go within 200 feet of the child. Broderick was also ordered to wear a GPS tracking device.

Austin PD said in April that an investigation revealed Amanda Broderick and Broderick were meeting for a scheduled family visit at the complex when a car crash occurred.

The former sheriff's deputy fired shots, killing all three victims, before fleeing the scene, according to police.

MORE ON THAT STORY: ATX Shooting: Stephen Broderick Arrested On Capital Murder Charge

Broderick is the accused shooter in what police have described as a domestic violence incident.

Austin police identified Amanda Broderick, Broderick's ex-wife, Alyssa Marie Broderick and Willie Simmons III as the three people killed in April's Northwest Austin shooting.

The Elgin school district identified Alyssa Broderick and Willie Simmons III on April 19 as former students in the school district.

The school hosted a vigil for the two teens on April 21. Officials described Broderick as "an excellent student and athlete" and Simmons III as "an exceptional young man and leader among his peers. Strong, both academically and athletically, he represented the very best of Elgin ISD."