Three SWAT officers from the Austin Police Department have been given the all-clear by a Travis County grand jury, dodging possible indictments relating to a shootout that left four dead, including a police officer. The incident in question took place last November during a domestic disturbance turned bloodbath on Bernoulli Drive, as reported by KVUE.
Upon receiving a 911 call about a stabbing on the fateful day, APD swiftly responded. A standoff ensued, during which the perpetrator, Mohamed Nassar, fired upon officers after murdering two of his relatives and wounding a third. Before falling victim to gunshots himself, Nassar managed to fatally injure APD Senior Police Officer Jorge "George" Pastore, as per details provided by KXAN.
SWAT officers Jared Carruth, Kevin Olejar, and Sergeant Kevin De La Rue returned fire, killing Nassar at the scene. In the challenging aftermath of this confrontation, Travis County District Attorney José Garza declared in a statement, "Austin Police Department Senior Officer Pastore, SWAT Officers Carruth and Olejar, SWAT Sgt. De La Rue, and the injured officer should be commended for their acts of bravery and courage."
Officer Pastore, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty, was not only a dedicated officer who joined APD in 2019 but also had a background as a paramedic and firefighter. Grieving his loss, he is survived by a tight-knit family including his wife, stepchildren, parents, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins, KVUE shared. This decision by the grand jury brings an official close to the investigation, but the emotional healing for those affected by that November day is a journey still in its early stages.
