The Austin Police Department yesterday said it was seeking Endicott McCray, a slender 24-year-old black man.
Police across the country, and especially in Texas, remain on edge after a rash of shootings, including one on July 7 in Dallas which saw five officers killed by a black extremist.
The incident in Austin began shortly after 2:15 am (local time) in an area filled with bars and nightclubs.
Police warned people to avoid the area, tweeting: "Active shooter incident downtown, multiple victims. Stay away from downtown."
It was unclear whether the shooter knew any of the victims.
At a press conference broadcast via Periscope, Austin Police Chief of Staff Brian Manley said that when officers arrived they found "a very chaotic scene."
There appeared to have been a disturbance during which an individual pulled out a gun and fired into a crowd, he said.
A second shooting nearby was apparently unrelated. No one was hurt.
"There were just tons of people on Sixth Street and I see all of them jump toward the ground," Vedamanikam said. "A lot of people were screaming.
