Police say a man in a zombie costume stabbed two workers at an Austin coffee bar and then crashed into an empty robotaxi, and the owner says it began when staff told him to get rid of an outside drink.
Story Highlights
- Two people were stabbed at The Buzz Mill in southeast Austin shortly before a comedy show.
- Police identified the suspect as Shankar Temple Grace, 20, who wore a Halloween costume.
- Police say he fled in a pickup truck, hit an empty self-driving car and was found on a walking trail.
- Grace is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The stabbing happened at 8:54 p.m. at Buzz Mill Coffee, located at 1505 Town Creek Drive, after a man dressed like a zombie caused a disturbance there, according to the Austin Police Department. pic.twitter.com/GIoF9rKrMU
— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) October 29, 2026
Police: Two Stabbed At Austin Coffee Bar
Austin police were called at about 8:54 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, to The Buzz Mill, a coffee shop and bar at 1505 Town Creek Drive in southeast Austin. The call came in as a fast-moving fight that posed a threat to life. Officers found two people with stab wounds. Both were taken to a hospital. Police said one had life-threatening injuries and the other did not, and both were later reported in stable condition.
The owner of The Buzz Mill, Jason Sabala, said the man had brought in an outside alcoholic drink. Under state alcohol rules, staff had to ask him to throw it away or leave. Sabala said the man headed toward the back of the property instead. He said the two people hurt were a security guard and an employee running sound for the weekly comedy show. “We are very excited to say that everyone is going to be okay,” Sabala said.
Suspect Named And Charged
Police identified the suspect as Shankar Temple Grace, 20. He was booked into the Travis County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In Texas, that is a second-degree felony, one of the more serious levels of charge. Grace is accused, not convicted, and the charges will be decided in court.
Police said Grace was dressed as a zombie for Halloween. A witness said his face was covered in makeup. Sabala said Grace often comes in wearing clown or zombie makeup. People at the bar told police he had caused a disturbance there before that night. Police have not released details about that earlier trouble.
A Getaway That Ended On A Trail
Police said Grace left the scene in a pickup truck at high speed. Along the way, he hit an empty Tesla Cybercab, police said. A Cybercab is a robotaxi, which is a self-driving car that carries riders with no one behind the wheel. No one was inside it when it was struck.
Officers searched the area after the crash. They found Grace on a walking trail near Rosewood and Chestnut avenues, about three miles from the coffee bar, and arrested him. One customer said he saw about 15 or 16 police vehicles at the scene. He called The Buzz Mill “a place where you don’t see any drama.”
What Police Have Said About A Motive
Police have not released a motive for the stabbing. Detectives are working to learn whether Grace knew either of the two people he is accused of stabbing. Police have also not said what kind of knife was used or released the names of the victims.
Police ask anyone with information to call the Austin Police Department’s Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5245.
Why This Matters for Public Safety and Common Sense
Halloween week brings crowds, costumes and late nights out. People at the bar told police this man had caused trouble there before, and this night ended with two workers hurt and a high-speed escape through city streets. Families and workers deserve a simple night out without fear of random violence. Staff who enforce the rules, officers who move fast and a quick arrest all help draw a firm line. The courts will decide guilt, but a swift response helps restore order when violence breaks out in a public place.
The robotaxi crash is a side note to the stabbing, not a debate about self-driving cars. The key point is simple: a reckless escape from a violent crime puts everyone on the road at risk. That kind of flight deserves to be taken seriously.
Sources:
foxnews.com, kxan.com, local21news.com, cbsaustin.com, ktsa.com