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Officer-Involved Shooting in SE Austin

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (file photo) says one person is dead after an officer involved shooting early Monday in SE Austin
Photo by KUT News
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (file photo) says one person is dead after an officer involved shooting early Monday in SE Austin

UPDATE 12:00 p.m.:  Austin Police are releasing more details about this morning's officer-involved shooting in Southeast Austin. 

Officials say a Hispanic man pointed a weapon at officers and fired at least one shot.  Officer Steven Pena, a three-year APD veteran, returned fire with several rounds from a shotgun.  The suspect later died at University Medical Center-Brackenridge. 

Police also say a witness told investigators that the suspect may have shot himself.  Pena has been placed on administrative leave, while the case is investigated.

EARLIER:  Austin Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Southeast Austin this morning.  The incident happened about 1:00 a.m. in an apartment complex on Burton Drive.  Police Chief Art Acevedo says a 29-year-old Hispanic man was reportedly trying to shoot his way into the apartment of an ex-girlfriend.

"One of the officers, as he engaged the suspect, in fear for his life, ended up shooting several rounds from a shotgun, striking the suspect," Acevedo told KUT News early this morning.

That suspect later died at University Medical Center-Brackenridge. 

The officer, identified only as being Hispanic, as well, has been placed on paid administrative leave.  Acevedo said a woman, another man and a toddler inside the apartment weren't injured in the gunfire.

The chief said police car video and audio were recording.  The camera was not able to capture the shooting, but that the sound from the incident was recorded.  Police are still investigating the shooting.

Ian Crawford joined KUT as News Editor in 2008, after spending over four years as a reporter/anchor at KLBJ Radio in Austin. He began his broadcasting career while still in high school in Southern Oregon. During high school and college at the University of Oregon, he worked at times as a reporter, news anchor, sports play-by-play reporter, music host and commercial producer before moving to Texas in 2003.
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