Man dead after opening fire on officers from pickup truck in southeast Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police shot and killed a person after they stated he opened fireplace on officers from a pickup truck in southeast Austin Thursday morning, based on the Austin Police Department.

The incident happened close to an condominium advanced within the 1500 block of Crossing Place. That’s close to East Riverside Drive and South Nice Valley Highway.

APD Chief of Police Joseph Chacon stated simply earlier than 5 a.m., a 911 caller reported a person was in a car pointing a gun at different individuals.

Officers responded, and round 5:11 a.m. they discovered a black pickup truck with a person inside. As officers approached the truck, the driver-side door opened.

That’s when officers started to offer instructions to the person sitting inside to come back out along with his arms within the air. Chacon stated “inside seconds” of the truck door opening, the person started firing at officers.

Officers took cowl and returned gunfire, Chacon stated, then continued to offer instructions to the person who was contained in the truck and nonetheless shifting. The person didn’t comply.

By 5:30 a.m., officers approached the truck, and as soon as they ensured it was protected, they started to manage life-saving measures to the person.

Austin-Travis County EMS additionally arrived on scene to assist, however the man was pronounced useless at 5:37 a.m., based on Chacon. No officers had been damage.

The person hasn’t been recognized but, however Chacon stated he’s in probably in his 40s.

5 officers complete had been concerned within the capturing, together with two officers in coaching:

• Officer with 7.5 years of expertise with APD (field-training officer)
• Officer with 4.5 years of expertise with APD (field-training officer)
• Officer with 5 years of expertise with APD
• Two officers in coaching (about 4 months with APD)

All might be positioned on administrative depart, as per APD protocol, Chacon stated. Each a felony and administrative investigation will happen, and video from the capturing might be launched inside 10 days. Footage was captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras, based on Chacon.

To this point, that is the fourth officer-involved capturing this 12 months for APD. Right here’s a take a look at the entire of police shootings for APD annually, relationship again to 1990.

‘An epidemic’

Chacon referred to as gun violence within the Austin group an “epidemic.”

“That is the second time in as many weeks that we’ve had officers that as they’re arriving on scene, as they’re approaching, are encountering gunfire that’s coming immediately from people,” Chacon stated.

He stated APD is working with the Travis County District Lawyer’s Workplace, the U.S. Attorneys Workplace and federal legislation enforcement companions on methods they’ll curb gun violence — from each a prevention and reactive standpoint.

Chacon additionally urged gun house owners to lock up their weapons, so that they don’t fall into the mistaken arms.

“I encourage our group to security safe your firearms. Don’t allow them to fall into the arms of those who would do dangerous issues with them and commit crimes,” stated Chacon.

He additionally stated gun crimes make it harder to recruit officers.

“We want a group that’s actually working with us, that’s vigilant, and that’s engaged with each other, as a result of I don’t have practically the variety of officers that I would like to have the ability to patrol each road, each evening,” Chacon stated.