The Austin Police Department has released body-worn camera and dash-cam footage from the fatal shooting of 59-year-old Franklin Earl Miller, who was accused of trying to break into Yadis Nails salon in North Austin. According to CBS Austin, the incident occurred late on September 10, when Miller reportedly attempted to break into multiple businesses and was allegedly armed with a rock and what appeared to be a gun in his waistband.
The officers, dispatched following a 911 call, arrived on the scene approximately 11 minutes after the call, at around 11:11 p.m. the Austin American-Statesman reports that bodycam footage from Officer Daniel Jauregui reveals several verbal exchanges with Miller, including commands to put his hands up and drop the gun. Miller's response, as captured on video, was, "I know you don't," after an officer told him, "We don't want to hurt you." Officers also discussed non-lethal options such as using pepper balls since they were too far away to deploy a Taser effectively.
These moments of negotiation lasted approximately 14 minutes before Miller "raised" his weapon, and five officers responded by discharging their firearms. The released footage from Officer Joseph Browne's patrol car demonstrates Miller raising his hand toward officers before being shot. All five officers are currently on administrative leave according to the department's standard protocol, which occurs after such incidents.
After the shooting, emergency measures were performed on Miller by Austin-Travis County EMS paramedics, though he was declared dead at the scene at 11:33 p.m. The Austin Police Department is conducting a dual investigation into the incident, with a criminal inquiry being carried out by the special investigations unit and the Travis County district attorney's office, while the internal affairs unit and the office of police oversight examine the conduct of the officers involved, as per information released by CBS Austin.
