Officer Killed in Line of Duty

Austin Police are mourning one of their own who was killed outside a North Austin Walmart early this morning.

Senior Police Officer Jamie Padron was responding to a call about a person inside the Walmart at I-35 and Parmer who was "acting suspiciously and was possibly intoxicated," says Chief Art Acevedo. As soon as Padron arrived on scene the person, a man, "immediately began to fight with the officer," Acevedo said. The man then shot Padron in the neck; Padron did not have a chance to pull a weapon. Employees of the store tackled the suspect, called police, and attempted to revive Padron. The man was subsequently arrested, but the officer died at the scene. Padron was a three-year veteran of the APD who was previously with the airport police. He was well-liked, Acevedo said. "He was a great, great human being, always happy, always smiling," he said. "He was the kind of guy that when he came into contact with people he always left a good impression." Padron is survived by his two young daughters.

The early morning shooting was the second deadly encounter in less than 24 hours. Around 6:30pm last night another APD officer – who also has not yet been publicly named – shot and killed a man near the intersection of 51st Street and Manor Road, after the man fled from a traffic stop. The man's name has not been released. Reportedly, the officer chased the man on foot; the officer tried to use a Taser, but, for whatever reason, it did not work. After a struggle, during which police say the officer was injured, the suspect was shot and killed.