AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department has released video footage of an officer-involved shooting that happened August 19.
APD reports at 4:35 p.m. that day, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a pedestrian on a high-speed roadway in the northbound 2100 block of south U.S. Highway 183. When they arrived, police say they found a 51-year-old man in the middle of the highway — who officers say was aggressive when they approached.
Officers say the man appeared to have a knife in his hand.
When more officers arrived, APD says the man advanced toward the officers with knife in hand. Despite commands to drop the knife, officers say he kept approaching them with the weapon.
APD says this prompted two officers to fire shots that hit him. Officers said he fell to the ground and continued refusing to drop the knife. Commands went on and the man continued to refuse to drop the knife — at this point, a stun gun was deployed.
GRAPHIC WARNING: The Austin Police Department released video from an incident on Aug. 19, where officers fired and released a stun gun at a man armed with a knife. Images may be disturbing.
Officers rendered aid, and he was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. As of Wednesday, he’s currently in stable condition.
APD says the man is not charged with a crime right now, and it’s unknown if he will be in the future.
“Transparency and accountability are key to our ability to serve the Austin community,” said APD Interim Chief Joseph Chacon on Wednesday. “This new release process is intended to provide our community with timely information about this recent incident.”
APD says it worked with the Office of Police Oversight and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to release the video. The details released Wednesday are preliminary and the investigation is ongoing.