The Austin Police Department (APD) is actively investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place in the early hours of April 6. This incident unfolded at an apartment on Tamarron Boulevard in Austin, where the APD seeks to maintain community trust through transparency. In an official press release, the APD stated that they are collaborating with the Office of Police Oversight and the City of Austin to offer an open account of the events that occurred, including the release of audio and video evidence, a part of their ten-day policy commitment after such critical incidents.
Involved in the shooting was Officer Gabriel Walker Prado who has only seven months of service with the department. After the incident, following standard protocol, Prado was placed on administrative leave. Captured on the body-worn camera of Officer Adam Reinhart, who was not a subject officer in the shooting, the footage provides additional perspective on the events, according to a statement by the APD.
Responding to a 9-1-1 call reporting a disturbance, officers arrived at the scene around 2:06 a.m. and investigated the source of the noise. Officer Prado saw through a sliding glass door two individuals involved in an altercation, one of whom was Avelino Medel II. Upon observing Medel brandishing a firearm, Prado warned his fellow officers and discharged his weapon, striking Medel who was approaching the front door at that moment. Despite being armed, Medel did not discharge his weapon during the encounter.
Subsequently, Medel received first aid from the officers and was rushed to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Released the following day, Medel has not been charged as the investigation remains ongoing. Body-worn camera footage of the incident, capturing various officers’ actions and containing graphic content, is now available to the public with necessary redactions as dictated by state law for the integrity of active investigations. The materials can be viewed on the APD's YouTube channel and other social media platforms.
Those with information about the incident are encouraged to contact the APD’s Special Investigation Unit or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers, where anonymous tips are accepted and can be submitted online. The APD emphasizes its commitment to building community trust through transparency and accountability as they continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
