An early morning call about a disturbance in a southwest Austin apartment complex led to gunfire, with one man shot by Austin police, as KVUE reports. The incident occurred just before 2 a.m. near Barton Creek Square Mall. According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the officers responded to noise complaints from the Cliffs at Barton Creek Apartments, situated at 3050 Tamarron Blvd.
On arrival, two officers approached the apartment where the disturbance was reported, as a third officer circled to the rear of the unit, where through the sliding glass door he saw two men, one of whom was armed and approached the front door, as APD Interim Chief Robin Henderson noted in a statement obtained by KVUE, it was then that a potentially lethal situation unfolded. The rear officer alerted the others of the threat by announcing "Gun gun gun!", and subsequently discharged his weapon at the armed suspect, for the official narrative states the officer witnessed a man gearing to confront his colleagues at the doorway, the firearm evident in his grip.
The injured suspect was transported to the hospital with injuries detailed as not life-threatening, whereas the other individual present during the altercation was not harmed. The officer who fired his weapon is a neophyte to the force, with a tenure of seven months, and as per protocol, will be placed on administrative duty. CBS Austin reported that bodycam footage from the incident is slated for release within the stipulated 10-business-day window.
In line with department doctrine, two investigations will run concurrently into the shooting: a criminal probe by the Special Investigations Unit of the APD, in partnership with the Travis County District Attorney's Office, and an administrative inquiry by APD's Internal Affairs with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight, these inquiries seek the full shape of truth lying at the heart of the night's events. Residents or witnesses with insights or information are requested to direct their knowledge to the APD or the Capital Area Crime Stoppers, ensuring that every angle is explored, and every detail accounted for in the build toward justice.
