A harrowing SWAT standoff at a Texaco gas station in southeast Austin, which unfolded last month, has become the scene of an unexpected community revival, led by local business owner Saxx Williams. Williams, who owns Saxx's Tacos inside the gas station, witnessed his establishment get caught in the crossfire, resulting in it being nearly destroyed. After a period of closure for repairs, the eatery reopened just last week. In an act of resilience, Williams hosted a crawfish boil this Sunday to bring together neighbors and signal a return to normality. According to KVUE, Williams said, "I spent almost $1,000 to put this on [Sunday], which is no big deal. My purpose of this wasn't to make money," Williams said. "It's about me, but it's about them. I care. I really care about these people. They're like my family."
The incident at the center of this story grew increasingly intense as it stretched on for hours on May 21. It began with a police pursuit of a stolen vehicle which led them to the gas station, only to escalate when the subject, identified as 35-year-old Alfonso Gonzales, engaged with officers. The Austin American-Statesman reported that Gonzales, armed with a gun and making a Molotov cocktail, was eventually fatally shot by Officer Ryan Nichols, a 16-year veteran of the Austin Police Department. During the standoff, Gonzales had reportedly fired at officers and made suicidal threats, creating a highly combustible situation with a hostage trapped inside the store alongside him.
As the community grapples with the aftermath, Williams has become a beacon of hope and solidarity. Despite the setback and the reduced menu due to cut costs, Williams remains undeterred and focused on the long game. "I need the money, but, you know, I'm more of a long-term game kind of person," Williams told KVUE. His friend, Charles Hayes, noted Williams’ perennially positive outlook: "He's always been that way ... It's kind of hard to keep him down." The community's response suggests a collective desire to support one of their own; a GoFundum page has been established to help the rebuilding efforts.
Currently, the officer involved in the shooting, Officer Nichols, has been placed on administrative leave, adhering to departmental policies while an investigation is underway. Despite the traumatic event, no other injuries were reported, and the hostages were safely rescued. The Austin Police Department's release of bodycam and drone footage brings some transparency to the events that transpired, but many in the community, like Henry Minden, are looking to heal and support local fixtures like Saxx's Tacos. "The magic is all Saxx," Minden affirmed in an interview with KVUE, signaling a shared sentiment that in Saxx's Tacos, and its owner, lies a heartening story of community resilience.
