The incident in Austin began shortly after 2:15 am (local time) in an area filled with bars and nightclubs.
Washington: Police in Texas has said they were seeking a person of interest in an overnight shooting that killed a young woman and wounded four other people.
The Austin Police Department on Sunday 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."
A woman in her 20s was killed, authorities said. They have not named any of the victims, three of whom were treated at a hospital while the fourth was treated at the scene and released.
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.
Sam Vedamanikam, 26, told the Austin American-Statesman newspaper that he and several friends were leaving a dance club when they heard four or five gunshots.
"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."
