A body was found in Lady Bird Lake near Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park in Austin, Texas. The Austin Police Department responded to a call from a fisherman who reported a body floating in the water. Homicide detectives were on the scene, but the incident is not actively being investigated as a homicide. This is the second body found near Lady Bird Lake this week, and police have stated that there is no reason for the public to be concerned.
Austin Police Department is responding to a shooting involving at least one officer in southwest Austin, near Vega Avenue. The incident occurred on West William Cannon Drive, and the Austin-Travis County EMS has also responded to the area. Details about the number of officers involved, injuries, and the cause of the shooting have not been confirmed. Texas Rangers will lead the investigation, and authorities have advised people to avoid the area and expect street closures.
The Austin Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred at a business park in north Austin after a shooting resulting from a disturbance between two individuals. The victim was pronounced deceased despite life-saving measures, and all parties involved have been accounted for with no remaining threat to the public. APD has scheduled a press briefing and is asking for any information related to the incident to be reported to the Homicide Tip Line.
One person is dead and at least five others injured after a vehicle crashed into the emergency room at St. David's North Austin Medical Center in Texas. The incident, which occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time, does not appear to be intentional, according to the Austin Police Department. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, and several individuals, including two children, were transported to different medical centers for treatment. The hospital's operations were not interrupted, and authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
At least one person is dead and four others, including two children, were injured after a vehicle crashed into the St. David's North Austin Medical Center emergency room in North Austin. The incident, which occurred at 5:38 p.m., is believed to be an accident, according to the Austin Police Department. An investigation is ongoing, and patients inside the ER are being transferred to other emergency rooms.
Austin police have identified Kenneth Robbins as the suspect in the nearly 30-year-old cold case murder of Bert Allen Mann, thanks to advancements in DNA forensics. Robbins was found dead in his work truck five days after detectives executed a DNA search warrant for his DNA, which matched the DNA found inside Mann’s home in 1994. The suspect had taken his own life. The case had remained unsolved for almost three decades, and the victim's family is relieved to finally have answers, although the motive for the murder remains unknown.
The stabbing of a Palestinian-American man near the University of Texas in Austin has been classified as a hate crime by the Austin Police Department. The suspect, Bert James Baker, allegedly attempted to remove a "Free Palestine" scarf from a truck carrying four Muslims and then stabbed 23-year-old Zacharia Doar during a fight. The incident occurred after a pro-Palestinian protest, and the Council on Arab-Islamic Relations is advocating for hate crime charges. Mr. Doar has undergone surgery and is recovering, while the police report indicates that the suspect used racial slurs to provoke the altercation.
The Austin Police Department is reviewing a weekend stabbing near the University of Texas at Austin campus as a bias-motivated crime and will be reviewed by the Hate Crimes Review Committee. The victim's father identified the victim as Zacharia, who was in town for a demonstration and believes the incident could have been prevented if leaders had called for a ceasefire in Gaza earlier. The APD emphasized the importance of educating, supporting, and respecting all members of the community and provided resources to report hate crimes.
Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo has declined an offer to become interim assistant city manager, citing concerns raised by city council members and community advocates about his previous tenure. Some council members and community advocates expressed concerns over issues such as the closure of the DNA lab, inadequate handling of sexual assault cases, untested rape kits, and the handling of protests during Acevedo's leadership. Acevedo stated that the position had become a distraction from the critical work ahead and that politics and power struggles had hindered efforts to create real positive improvements in the city and police department.
Former police chief Art Acevedo is returning to Austin to work for the City in a new role overseeing and advising the police department as the interim city manager over APD, with the position focusing specifically on law enforcement. His hiring aims to strengthen the relationship between the City and police, and he brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles in law enforcement. Acevedo most recently served as the interim police chief for the Aurora Police Department in Colorado and will be leaving his position there to return to Texas.
Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo is returning to Texas after serving as the head of the Aurora Police Department in Colorado for over a year, citing a desire to be closer to his family. His departure from Aurora is set for Jan. 22, and he expressed gratitude for the dedication of the department's personnel. Acevedo previously led the Austin Police Department for nearly 10 years and also served as the chief of the Houston Police Department before relocating to oversee the Aurora Police Department in December 2022.
Austin Police Department (APD) officer Daniel Sanchez has been indicted for third-degree felony deadly conduct in connection with the shooting death of Rajan Moonesinghe in November 2022. Sanchez, who is currently on paid administrative duty, responded to a call about a man firing a rifle in a densely populated neighborhood. The indictment has sparked controversy, with Moonesinghe's family calling for higher charges and criticizing the police department's response. The case will proceed to trial, where Sanchez maintains his innocence.
An Austin police officer, Daniel Sanchez, has been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the deadly shooting of 33-year-old Rajan David Moonesinghe in south Austin in November 2022. Sanchez has been charged with one count of deadly conduct, a third-degree felony. The shooting occurred after a 911 call reported a man with a gun, and body camera footage shows Sanchez giving a verbal command to drop the gun before firing his department-approved firearm. Moonesinghe's family expects additional indictments to be brought against Officer Sanchez. The Austin Police Department is supporting Sanchez, stating that he responded to a threat consistent with his training.
A shooting at Barton Creek Mall in Austin left one person injured in what police believe to be an isolated incident stemming from an altercation between two individuals. The police have not made any arrests and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The injured person has been taken to the hospital, and the nature of their injuries is currently unknown. The investigation is ongoing.
One person was shot at Barton Creek Square Mall in Austin, Texas. The shooting occurred near the AMC theater and Cheesecake Factory. The victim's condition is unknown, and it is unclear if a suspect is in custody. The police have stated that this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. An investigation is ongoing.
