A man was fatally shot by a Travis County sheriff's deputy at Community First! Village, a settlement for the formerly homeless in Northeast Austin, authorities reported.
The incident occurred Wednesday night when deputies were called to the property for a welfare check at about 9:30 p.m. The man said to have been "behaving erratically," was confronted by law enforcement trying to de-escalate the situation, during which, he allegedly brandished a weapon. In response, a deputy discharged their firearm, resulting in the man's death at the scene, reported the Austin American-Statesman.
The specifics of the shooting, including the number of shots fired and the time of the man's death, remain undisclosed. The Travis County Sheriff's Office has not released additional details and has directed inquiries to the Texas Rangers, who have taken the lead in the investigation of the officer-involved shooting, FOX 7 Austin covered.
Following standard procedure, the deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave. Concurrently, the sheriff's office's criminal investigations division, and internal affairs unit will be conducting parallel investigations into the incident. This shooting comes on the heels of a recent family homicide within the community where a 61-year-old resident was allegedly killed by his teenage son. Yet, authorities have not indicated any connection between the two events.
Community First! Village, a 51-acre master-planned community, is home to over 350 individuals who have experienced homelessness. The development is part of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a ministry that provides not just affordable housing but also critical on-site services such as health care and vocational programs.
