In response to the release of the Austin Police Department’s (APD) report on its violent crimes initiative during the just-concluded 2022 South by Southwest (SXSW), APD Assistant Chief Jerry Bauzon said the city’s signature springtime event was fairly quiet, Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported.
Bauzon told the station that the initiative was in place during SXSW to watch out for firearm-related crimes and human trafficking. KVUE reported that Austin police seized 61 firearms throughout the course of the festival, which was held from March 11-20.
This year’s SXSW returned as an in-person event after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled it in 2020 and organizers hosted it virtually last year.
“From a public safety standpoint, SXSW 2022 was a success,” the assistant chief told the station. “While there were two shootings over the entire 10-day festival, we will never know how many violent incidents were prevented from the seizure of these 61 firearms.”
Bauzon said police also confiscated 250 pounds of marijuana and “numerous other narcotics,” as well as made 130 arrests.
KVUE reported that police responded to a shooting in the Sixth Street Entertainment District in the early morning hours of the final day of the festival (March 20).
The station reported that four people sustained minor injuries in the shooting, which reportedly stemmed from a disturbance.
Authorities said that five of the SXSW-related arrests were for alleged prostitution with an enhanced charge for child solicitation.
Bauzon told KVUE that such offenses tend to be committed during any large-scale event in the country.
“Unfortunately, predators use these large-scale events to make money and to solicit illegal pleasures,” he said, according to the station.
Bauzon added that officers performed fentanyl and fentanyl-related narcotics seizures around Austin prior to the event.
KVUE reported that Austin-Travis County EMS assisted Austin police with ensuring the safety of residents and festivalgoers alike.
SXSW occurred after the area moved to Stage 2 of the City of Austin’s COVID-19 risk-based guidelines for the second time within a year.
