A Travis County grand jury on Thursday declined to indict four Austin police officers in the Nov. 7, 2024, shooting that left 27-year-old Zachary Labrie dead. District Attorney José Garza announced the decision, which clears Officers Javier Rodriguez, Joseph Kephart, Katherine Alzola, and Andy Yu of criminal charges in the case.
Garza said he laid out the evidence and the law for grand jurors, who then decided whether charges were warranted. "In this case, an independent group of members of the Travis County community heard the evidence and law and decided that Officers Rodriguez, Kephart, Alzola, and Yu's conduct was not unlawful," Garza said, according to KEYE/CBS Austin.
How the chase unfolded
The incident began early on Nov. 7, 2024, when a Bee Cave officer tried to make a traffic stop on Highway 71 and then lost sight of the vehicle, triggering a multi-agency search. The Austin Police Department says Labrie later appeared at an apartment complex in northwest Austin, forced his way into his ex-girlfriend's unit while armed, carjacked two people at separate locations, and when officers eventually found him, pointed a handgun at them. Officers opened fire, and Labrie was pronounced dead at 9:03 a.m., according to the Austin Police Department.
What the released video shows
The department had previously released body-worn camera footage, dashcam video, Ring doorbell clips, and 911 calls as part of its investigation materials. Local reporting and the videos show Labrie running from officers and appearing to point a weapon at them before officers fired their weapons, as reported by FOX 7 Austin.
Legal context and next steps
Because grand jury proceedings are secret, public details are limited to what prosecutors share and to the district attorney's statement. A no-bill means the panel did not find sufficient probable cause to return criminal charges in Travis County. The Travis County District Attorney's office has taken multiple officer-involved shootings to grand juries in recent years, and officials note that grand juries have often returned no-bills in use-of-force reviews, according to the Travis County District Attorney. The Austin Police Department has said that its administrative and criminal inquiries in this case remain open and that it coordinated with the DA's office during the review process, according to APD materials.
With the grand jury declining to indict, Garza's announcement means there will be no immediate criminal charges in Travis County related to Labrie's death. That decision, along with the department's released footage, is likely to shape any next steps for advocates or family members, according to KEYE/CBS Austin.
