On the afternoon of September 27, Austin's serene grocery shopping routine was pierced by the sound of gunfire. According to the Austin Police Department, at approximately 3:50 p.m., they received calls of a shooting at the HEB on 500 Canyon Ridge Drive. Originally feared as an active shooter situation, the incident was later confirmed to be an isolated confrontation between a security guard and an individual accused of shoplifting.
Witness reports to 911 described a man lunging at the security with a knife, prompting the guard to first attempt to subdue him with a taser. Despite these efforts, the situation escalated. "The caller stated the security guard attempted to tase the subject, then shot him," as noted in the APD's statement. The guard has been identified as 34-year-old Warren Owusu, and the deceased as Michael Rosario Jr., born 2/4/92.
Police officers rushed to the scene, where life-saving measures were applied to Rosario before transporting him to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Austin. Despite these efforts, Rosario was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. Further details from the investigation revealed that Rosario had armed himself with a hubcap, using it as a makeshift shield, before charging at Owusu, resulting in the fatal shooting.
This violent encounter has been recorded as Austin's 47th homicide of 2024. As of now, no charges have been filed against Mr. Owusu. The Austin Police Department continues to gather evidence and has urged anyone with information to come forward. Witnesses can contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS or submit tips anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.
