Man Dressed as Zombie Allegedly Stabs Two at Coffee Shop, Flees and Hits Robotaxi

A man wearing a zombie costume allegedly stabbed two people at an Austin, Texas, coffee shop Wednesday night, then fled in a pickup truck and crashed into an unoccupied vehicle.

The Austin Police Department identified the suspect as 20-year-old Shankar Temple Grace, who was arrested following a police search.

The stabbing happened shortly before a local comedy show was set to start at The Buzz Mill, a coffee shop and bar.

Police said officers were dispatched after receiving reports of a “disturbance hot shot” inside the business. The term refers to a rapidly escalating confrontation involving an immediate threat of death or serious physical injury.

First responders found one victim suffering from life-threatening injuries and a second victim with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to APD.

Both victims were taken to a hospital and were last listed in stable condition, authorities said.

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After the alleged stabbing, the suspect escaped in a pickup truck, speeding away before hitting an unoccupied autonomous vehicle, KEYE reported.

Officers searched for Grace and eventually found him on a walking trail about 3 miles from the scene, police said.

APD said the suspect was wearing a Halloween costume when the attack occurred.

A witness told police the man was dressed as a zombie and had makeup covering his face, KEYE reported.

People inside the establishment also told officers that the man had caused a disturbance at the bar before Wednesday night’s stabbing, according to the outlet.

Grace was booked into the Travis County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.