The Austin Police Department is in the midst of conducting an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that took place on May 31 at the intersection of Research Boulevard, SVRD NB, and North Lamar Boulevard. According to details shared by the APD in a recent news release, the incident began when officers attempted to pull over a vehicle reported as stolen, which resulted in a chase and subsequent shootout that left 18-year-old suspect Devin Guevara injured.
A very brief pursuit ensued after the suspect evaded police, moving dangerously through traffic signals. This led to a collision between the suspect's vehicle and a cement pillar. Despite the impact, the vehicle continued to flee until a collision with another civilian car brought it to a halt. It was at this juncture that the suspect, identified as Guevara, opened fire on the officers, prompting them to return fire, striking Guevara in the clavicle. Fortunately, no officers were hit during the exchange of gunfire. The information comes from the official APD report.
Following the shooting, the four officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave as per department protocol. They have been identified as Officer Joseph Duesler, Officer Kai Finch, Officer Martin Vela, and Officer Vincent Nguyen, all with less than three years of service with APD. Two parallel investigations are currently ongoing: a criminal probe by APD's Special Investigations Unit along with the Travis County District Attorney's Office, and an internal inquiry by APD's Internal Affairs, under the watch of the Office of Police Oversight.
Mr. Guevara was commanded to exit the vehicle after he was struck and was thereafter taken into custody without further incident. He is now facing multiple charges, including three counts of Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant. Between the chaos, no other injuries besides that of Guevara and minor harm to one officer were reported. The entire episode was recorded on body-worn and dash cameras, though the public should be aware that the footage has been redacted to comply with state law and to maintain the integrity of the investigation, as the APD indicated in their statement.
The APD has taken steps to be transparent about the incident by releasing materials to the public. This includes police radio traffic audio and several dash camera videos, which have been shared on the Department's YouTube channel and other social media platforms. The event has sparked a reminder of the APD's commitment to building a trusting relationship with the community. Those with information about the incident are being encouraged to get in touch with the APD Special Investigation Unit.
