Deputy shoots suspect in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - Investigators said a Williamson County Sheriff's Deputy shot a bank robbery suspect, after a police chase ended along Interstate 35 in Georgetown.

The end of the chase and shooting happened around 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of I-35 and Williams Drive in Georgetown. 

Investigators shut down the northbound lanes of I-35 after the incident. Traffic backed up for several miles on the Interstate because of the closure. 

A Texas Department of Transportation spokesman said the highway reopened at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The chase started in Austin, after a report of a robbery at the Bank of America on I-35 at 39th Street in Austin, followed by a police chase up I-35.

Austin police said the suspect threw cash out the window of his vehicle during the chase and stuck a handgun out the window several times.

Eyewitness Sarah Ryder watched as the driver lost control of his truck on I-35 in Georgetown.

"A man got out with a woman and had a gun to her head and they started walking on the highway," said Ryder. "All the officers got out and followed with their guns drawn. As they were going up the hill the woman stumbled and the officer shot and shot what appeared to be his neck and he went down and they got the woman away."

Williamson County spokesperson John Foster said the deputy felt he had no other choice but to shoot the suspect.

"Our deputy told the suspect several times- you need to drop it- numerous officers told him you need to drop it and he did not," said Foster.

Investigators are still trying to determine the relationship between the woman and the suspect, but Foster said that did not come into play for the deputy who fired his gun.

"It doesn't matter- best friends, no friends, he saw a hostage situation with what appeared to be a gun and he did what he had to do," said Foster.

The suspect is in critical condition at Brackenridge University Medical Center. Officials said the deputy is a veteran officer, but declined to give further details.