An Austin police officer was shot during a confrontation near Zilker Park on Wednesday morning, leading to the apprehension of a suspect.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the officer is currently in stable condition. Chief Davis expressed the distressing nature of the event, referring to it as a “nightmare” to learn that an officer had been shot.
The confrontation initiated when officers, conducting a routine park curfew check, encountered a stolen vehicle. As one officer arranged for a tow, other officers continued their patrol. Chief Davis stated that the officer was completing tow paperwork when he noticed two individuals in the tree line and directed them to come forward.
Footage of the incident showed one individual seemingly concealing something in his hands. When ordered to reveal his hands, the man fired, striking a woman in the head, and continued firing, hitting the officer, who then returned fire. Michael Bullock, head of the Austin Police Association, highlighted the risks officers face, noting this scenario was not a standard emergency call.
The suspect fled, inciting a manhunt involving K-9 units, SWAT, and aerial support. An Austin ISD sergeant’s report of a suspicious person near a school prompted security measures, potentially averting further danger, said Wayne Sneed, Austin ISD Police Chief.
The suspect fled to Barton Hills, entering a home where he was shot by the homeowner. Chief Davis reported the suspect is stable but expressed pessimism about the injured woman’s recovery. Grateful for the homeowner’s intervention, Bullock acknowledged his bravery in a dangerous situation.
Jevon Ikner, visiting Zilker Park, commented on the social impact, noting a loss of empathy and unity. The Austin Police Department asks the public for any additional information about the incident, marking the fifth shooting involving an APD officer this year.