Police ID Rifle-Wielding Man Shot By One Of Their Officers Outside North Austin Church [UPDATED]

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Law enforcement officials on Tuesday identified the man killed by police after wielding a rifle and firing it into the air.

The man was identified as Scott Laurance Gilpin, 47. He was shot outside a church in the northwest portion of the city on Jan. 14. Police also identified the officer who fired the fatal shot as Jesse Lane, who has been with the force for just 2 1/2 years. the officer is currently on administrative leave per protocol after police-related shootings.

The president of the police union offered a measure of defense for the officer's actions, given comments Gilpin purportedly made indicating he wanted to die: "Unfortunately, the subject in this case forced the matter," Ken Casaday told the Austin American-Statesman. "It was clear the guy wanted to die."

The shooting occurred outside Hope Presbyterian Church, 11512 Olson Dr., near Anderson Mill Road and U.S. 183. Before being fatally shot by police, Gilpin had fired an AR-15 rifle several times into the air, according to police.

Police originally responded to Anderson Mill Pub, 10401 Anderson Mill Rd., for a burglary report, than a report of people fighting and, by the third time, to reports of a man returning after the fight carrying the rifle, police told media outlets, including the Statesman.

As the newspaper reported, an online profile of Gilpin lists him as having worked for Cedar Park consulting firm at the NLand Surf Park last year. He also listed a past position as general manager at the Best Buy store in the Mueller mixed-use development located in the northeast part of the city.

According to public records, Gilpin was a resident of Cedar Park.

From Jan. 14:

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Police shot and killed an armed man outside a church in northeast Austin on Saturday morning, according to media reports.

Before being shot, the unidentified man in his 40s fired several shots into the air, police said in a subsequent press conference. The man ignored police commands to put down his rifle, police said. Officers rushed to the scene after reports of shots fired related to a fight among several people, according to police.

As of noon, police had yet to release the name of either the man or the officer who fatally shot him.

The shooting occurred in the 10000 block of Anderson Mill Road near Swallow Drive west of U.S. 183.

This is a developing story. Patch will provide more details as they become available.

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