Armed Man Killed in Police Shooting Outside Austin Church

AUSTIN, TX — A man who police say repeatedly fired shots into the air with an assault rifle and refused to comply with officers' orders was killed by police in the courtyard of a northwest Austin church early Saturday morning, Assistant Chief Chris McIlvain told reporters at a press conference.

According to police, authorities first responded to 10401 Anderson Mill Road for a "panic robbery alarm" around 1:08 a.m. A few minutes later police received a call that two men were physically fighting in the parking lot of the establishment.

Police say the suspect was described as a white male between 40-45 years old who was armed with a gun. When officers arrived at the scene the suspect had departed but had left his gun behind, which police recovered.

Around 1:36 a.m., police received a call saying the man had returned to the scene and was now armed with a shotgun and an AR-15. An officer who was still in the area from the previous call made his way back and while waiting for backup saw the suspect in the parking lot of the establishment and and then saw him aim the assault rifle in the air and fire five to six shots.

Additional officers arrived and gave the suspect orders to drop the weapon, which he refused and began walking southbound towards a church that was behind the establishment, police said. After making his way on to the property of the church he fired more shots in the air.

Officers set up a team to contain the suspect in the courtyard of the church. Officers then began a dialogue with the suspect who was semi-barricaded behind a retaining wall. After talking for about 13 minutes, the suspect refused to comply.

He left the barricaded area around 2:03 a.m. and began walking through the courtyard, police said. SWAT and hostage negotiators had not yet arrived on the scene when the suspect walked through the courtyard.

According to police, at this point, officers encountered the subject and fired on him. Officers began life-saving measured on the suspect but he was pronounced deceased.

McIlvain said it appears that at this time only one officer fired on the suspect. The officer has not been named and will be placed on administrative duty.

The man killed in the shooting has not been identified.

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