After arriving at the scene of a two-car crash on Friday night, Austin police were informed of a man allegedly running around shirtless waving a rifle in the air. After not complying, the man was reportedly shot by police.
The man's injury is not believed to be life-threatening, and he is in stable but serious condition, the department said.
Police arrived at the car crash on U.S. Highway 183 at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, responding to a call that a man was bleeding from his face, Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said at a press conference on Saturday about the incident.
Shortly after that call, Chacon said that dispatchers received numerous calls about the shirtless man waving a black rifle while walking around the intersection where the crash occurred.
More calls came in and claimed that the man was pointing his weapon at people while also firing into the air.
Over the radio, one sergeant with the department said he heard a gunshot in the area, and shortly after, another officer found the man, police said.
The officer who found the man stepped out of his car with his shotgun, yelling at the man to drop his weapon.
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The shirtless man did not listen, and he continued to walk toward the man holding his rifle. The officer then shot one bullet that hit the man, police said.
Then, other officers arrived on the scene, disarmed the man, and started lifesaving measures. The man was treated briefly by EMS, who arrived and then transported him to a local hospital.
It is still being investigated whether the crash and the man carrying the rifle were connected, Chacon said. However, Austin police believe this was an isolated incident with no further danger present to the public.
Chacon added during the conference that the officer who fired the shot is going to be placed on administrative duty while they investigate the shooting, per police protocol. Criminal and administrative investigations are also pending.
Footage of what happened has not yet been released but has been captured. Chacon said the body cam and police vehicle video would be released within 10 working days.
