The Austin Police Department is slated to provide a much-awaited update on the officer-involved shooting incident that occurred at a South Austin strip mall on August 28. As reported by FOX 7 Austin, Police Chief Lisa Davis will address the public and the media at a 1 p.m. news conference today, sharing the latest findings from the ongoing investigation into the confrontation that left the burglary suspect dead and a bystander injured.
The incident, which rapidly escalated at the Thundercloud Subs located on Slaughter Lane and Manchaca Road, began when officers identified a man wanted for multiple burglaries, including a home invasion where a gun was reportedly brandished. The confrontation turned deadly when the suspect pulled out a weapon, prompting a bystander to intervene. In the commotion, the suspect was tackled, but not before shots were fired, resulting in his death and the injury of Fernando Martinez, the intervening bystander, according to KVUE's interview with him.
The officers involved in the shooting were subsequently placed on administrative leave, a routine procedure in such events. Security footage captured by a neighboring business, Accent Trophies and Awards, showed the exterior of the establishment just around 5:26 p.m., moments after the shooting took place. The owner narrowly escaped injury as a bullet penetrated the wall of his business, striking a metal bar and missing him by mere inches.
In a candid recount of the ordeal, Martinez, now recovering at home, reflected on his quick response to the unfolding danger inside the sandwich shop. "Instincts, I think, kicked in. And I knew that it's kind of now or never,” Martinez said, signaling the urgency of his actions that day to KVUE. Despite suffering a gunshot wound and facing weeks off work, Martinez harbors no regrets, emphasizing the necessity of his intervention for the safety of all present.
While Martinez endures the physical aftermath with a bullet lodged in his right shoulder, the community has rallied behind his bravery. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help with his escalating medical bills and lost income during recovery. Police Chief Lisa Davis has acknowledged Martinez's actions as heroic, and further details on the investigation are expected to be unveiled at today's news conference.
