Man Killed In Austin Officer-Involved Shooting (Updates)

AUSTIN, TX — A man described as being in a state of mental distress was shot dead by officers at a luxury high-rise building after he allegedly walked toward them while holding a knife in a police confrontation on Wednesday.

The shooting occurred at the Spring Austin high-rise condominium complex in West Austin, located at 300 Bowie St. at around 4:55 p.m., according to police. In an impromptu press conference in the shooting's aftermath, Austin Police Department Chief Brian Manley said the incident was sparked by residents' complaints about the man's loudly banging on emergency exit doors in the building.

By the time the first officer arrived at 5:08 p.m., the man — believed to have been a resident in the complex — had taken the elevator to the 5th floor gymnasium, Manley said. As the doors to the elevator opened, the four officers inside spotted the man holding a large knife to his throat while about ten feet away down a narrow hallway, the chief said.

Ignoring warnings to drop the knife, the man instead is said to have walked toward the officers — prompting two of them to open fire while another engaged his Taser gun, according to Manley's account. In an earlier tweet, police said the man was shot in the chest.

Despite life-saving measures, Manley said, the man — described as a 46-year-old person of Asian ancestry — was pronounced dead by 6:06 p.m. Manley acknowledged the man was in an obvious state of mental distress before being fatally shot.

The two veteran officers who opened fire have been placed on administrative duty per police protocol, the chef said. Both have been with the police force for five years, Manley added.

Manley added the entire confrontation was captured on officers' body-worn cameras. That video will be part of the evidence mix as police continue to investigate. No other details were disclosed.

According to information found on its website, Austin Spring is a 43-story condominium high-rise in West Austin overlooking downtown. Upon its completion in 2009, the structure became the third-tallest building in Austin and the tallest in the West End.