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Suspect Dies in Officer-Involved Shooting

Nathan Bernier, KUT News

Update (5 p.m.): Austin Police tell KUT News Paladino died at University Medical Center Brackenridge approximately one-hour ago. 

Update (4 p.m.): Police have identified the suspect as 42 year-old Maurice Chad Paladino.

Update (2:40 p.m.): Austin Police have released the name of the officer involved in the shooting. APD officials say Officer Brandon Blanche was in danger for his life.

"In watching the video," Assistant Police Chief Sean Mannix says, "I think all of us are comfortable that there's not going to be any legal issues with the shooting, that the officer likely acted lawfully. But we hold our officers to a higher standard administratively. What we have to look at is the lawfulness of the shooting, but we also have to look at the tactics employed and how the officers got to the situation they were in as well."

Mannix says Blanche was clearly in the path of the vehicle that "actively engaged" when he discharged his weapon.

The still unnamed suspect is said to be in "grave condition."

Update (1:15 p.m.): Police chief Art Acevedo is holding a press conference at APD headquarters. He described the unnamed suspect, a white male in his early 40s, as a “dangerous individual” who had 16 warrants. Acevedo said a full internal review of the shooting could take two to three months.

Acevedo lauded the dashboard camera system installed in APD vehicles, which he said “captured in very good quality everything that lead up to a very rapidly evolving situation.”

Original post (6:57 a.m.):  An Austin Police officer shot a man last night after officers say he tried to run them over.

The man was suspected of stealing a vehicle and, police say, when they approached him, he accelerated towards them.

The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. on the northbound I-35 frontage road near Woodward.

The Austin Police officer involved in the shooting is on paid leave and was not injured. There’s no update on the suspect’s condition. Police say the incident is still under investigation.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) tweeted after leaving the scene: "Just left officer involved shooting thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved and their families. Thankful our officers are safe."

Laura first joined the KUT team in April 2012. She now works for the statewide program Texas Standard as a reporter and producer. Laura came to KUT from the world of television news. She has worn many different hats as an anchor, reporter and producer at TV stations in Austin, Amarillo and Toledo, OH. Laura is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, a triathlete and enjoys travel, film and a good beer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and pets.
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