Three bystanders were injured and Austin Police Department officers killed a man holding a gun on East Sixth Street Saturday just before midnight, according to police accounts and video of the gunfire.
Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson said at a news conference Sunday that a man was trying to illegally enter a bar with a gun when a bar employee called police. After officers arrived, they say the man pointed the gun at them. Three officers fired their weapons.
“The suspect sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was later pronounced deceased,” Henderson said. All three bystanders were transported to a hospital. One of the bystanders is in critical condition, the other two have non-life-threatening injuries, and no officers were injured.
Security camera footage posted to social media shows a man in a bright green sweatshirt standing outside the door of Soho Lounge. A group of what appears to be at least eight officers walks up. The man appears to pull his right hand out of his pocket. Then more than 10 shots ring out. As the man falls, it appears that he fires a shot in the direction of police and bystanders running away from the scene.
As is the case for any officer-involved shooting, police must release body camera footage of the incident within 10 days.
This article appears in December 15 • 2023.
