An Austin police officer was shot and killed in South Austin on Saturday morning, and one other person was injured. This marks the first time in a decade that an Austin officer has been killed in a line of duty shooting.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. in the 9300 block of Bernoulli Drive, an area off Westgate Boulevard, south of U.S. 290 and east of Mopac (Loop 1). Two deceased individuals were found in the house, and the suspect was shot and deceased at the scene. A second officer was also injured and taken to Dell Seton Medical Center.
Mayor Kirk Watson confirmed the tragic news and stated that the Austin Police Department will not be taking questions from the media at this time. He also joined APD brass at the hospital to show support for the officers and their families.
The Austin Police Retired Officers Association took to social media to express their heartbreak over the news, sharing, “Our hearts are heavy this morning with the news of one of our brothers with APD having been shot and killed in the line of duty. Please pray for his family, all the APD family and for the speedy recovery of a second officer wounded in the same incident.”
Local residents have also shown their support, with one neighbor bringing coffee and baked goods to the officers stationed on the perimeter. Jerry Joe Benson, a U.S. Navy veteran, expressed his sympathy, stating, “If I lost a coworker, I would feel pretty bad. I know this is a hard time for people to go through.”
The incident has led to a SWAT situation, and police are currently attempting to evacuate neighbors from the area. A briefing for the media is scheduled for later in the day. This is a developing story and will be updated with additional information.