Austin PD IDs Dead Woman, Cop In Officer-Involved Shooting

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Police Department on Monday identified the knife-wielding woman who died in an officer-involved shooting last week in Southeast Austin, as well as the name of the policeman who fatally shot her.

The woman was identified as Leslie Yolanda Salazar, who was 20 years old when she was shot dead during a police confrontation. The officer who fired his gun was identified as Thomas Brown, who has been with the force for three years and is currently assigned to Central East/South Central Patrol, police said in a Monday afternoon press advisory.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, the officer has been placed on administrative leave as is standard protocol after police shootings.

Police noted the case will be administratively investigated by APD’s Internal Affairs Unit, and monitored by the Office of the Police Monitor. A concurrent investigation will be conducted by APD’s Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, according to police.

Police were called to the 7300 block of South Glenn Street just before 2:30 a.m. June 7, after a woman told dispatchers that Salazar had allegedly tried entering her home. The woman called minutes later saying she was outside being chased by the suspect. The woman told police the suspect seemed intoxicated, and resisted efforts by other to be restrained, according to the police account.

Officials said Salazar was armed with a knife at the time, and was shot after refusing police demands to drop it. The incident marked at least the fifth officer-involved shooting to occur in Austin so far this year.

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