Officer-involved shooting suspect dies

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man who allegedly stole a car and had 16 warrants out for his arrest was shot and injured by an Austin police officer on Tuesday night. He died on Wednesday.

The suspect, Maurice Chad Paladino, 42, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge in grave condition after the incident. Austin Police Department said he died at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to the police, the shooting happened just after 8:40 p.m. in the parking lot of the Country Garden Inn in the 3000 block of South Interstate 35 near Woodward Street.

Police said an officer patrolling the area spotted a car that was stolen from a dealership on South Congress around 5:30 p.m. The officer was able to verify that the car he was looking at was a match for the stolen one.

While the officer was in the hotel parking lot, he spotted the possible suspect on the second level of the hotel balcony.

"The suspect then ran around and through the complex here at the hotel," said Chief Art Acevedo. "While the suspect was running, additional units that were already en route to back up the officer arrived on scene."

During that time, the suspect jumped into a car and tried to leave the scene.

According to authorities, when the backup officers exited their car, the suspect's car stopped, backed up and moved forward.

"At one point, [he] drove the vehicle directly at one of the officers," said Acevedo. "The officer, in fear for his life, discharged several rounds striking the suspect."

According to police, Paladino had an extensive criminal history with multiple felony arrests. He currently had 16 warrants out for his arrest -- one of which was for resisting an arrest from an APD officer approximately two months ago.

No officers were injured, but the officer who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending further investigation -- standard procedure.

A neighbor who lives near the scene said he heard four shots from his home.

Police closed off the northbound frontage road of Interstate Highway 35 at Woodward Street as they investigated the shooting.