Austin Police Shoot Suspect After Gunfire Exchange

AUSTIN, TX — In the seventh officer-related shooting by Austin police officers, a man was critically injured by police Friday morning after he reportedly exchanged gunfire with them following a disturbance call.

The incident occurred along the 4700 block of Chiappero Trail in North Austin just past 7:35 a.m. amid a call from a woman reporting her son, who could be heard in the background yelling at her to be quiet, according to Chief Brian Manley. Subsequent 911 calls indicated the man had fled the home but not before slashing the woman's tires.

The woman told police he had arrived at her home that morning and pulled a gun on her before assaulting her, according to the chief.

Just before 9 a.m., the suspect was spotted in a vehicle but the man drove off and led police on a 10-minute chase. As officers finally were able to bring the car to a stop at Spicewood Springs Road and Mesa Drive, the suspect is said to have pulled a gun and fired at at police.

Police returned fire, shooting the man police only described as a 27-year-old. It's unclear where the man was shot and what the extent of his injuries are. Manley told reporters a semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene, noting that the man is not unfamiliar to police.

Manley said the two officers who fired their weapons are both five-year veterans of the force. Both officers are on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation per standard protocol after officer-involved shootings.

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