Investigations continue following an officer-involved shooting that took place in the early hours of September 10th on Azie Morton Road, as reported by the Austin Police Department (APD). The incident has drawn attention due to the dramatic sequence of events, which included a runaway suspect and a civilian shooting the assailant.
The situation began when APD officers were conducting a curfew check around Zilker Park, where they discovered a vehicle reported as stolen. Officer Adam Reinhart, a six-year, two-month veteran of the department, stayed on scene awaiting the arrival of a tow truck. Two individuals, later identified as Kay Smith and Brandon Thompson, approached the tow truck driver, claiming the vehicle as their own. When Reinhart confronted them as they retreated into a wooded area, the situation escalated. According to the Austin Police Department's official statement, Reinhart was shot in the abdomen, and Smith, caught in the crossfire, was fatally wounded.
Subsequently, the assailant, Thompson, fled the scene, setting off a manhunt that ended when a local homeowner shot him after he broke into a residence on Homedale Drive. Thompson now faces multiple charges, including attempted capital murder of a peace officer and burglary of a residence. The Austin Police Department has released body-cam footage from Officer Reinhart to provide transparency, and the materials have been made available on the Department's YouTube channel and other social media platforms, with appropriate redactions to comply with state law.
Officer Reinhart, now on paid administrative leave, is under both criminal and administrative investigations, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight. The released content, as APD indicates, does not capture everything experienced during the incident but provides a clearer picture of the events. Public caution is advised due to the graphic nature of the footage. The APD is urging anyone with further information to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
