AUSTIN, Texas — Police have identified the victims and named the suspect in the Nov. 11 shooting that killed Senior Office Jorge Pastore.
The Austin Police Department (APD) said at 2:49 a.m., a woman called 911 requesting assistance at 9308 Bernoulli Drive. She was screaming for help and said someone was stabbing her.
At approximately 2:57 a.m., patrol officers, wearing APD uniforms, arrived near the location the woman had called from. They began to gather information, including the suspect's location. APD said officers were notified that two other people were injured inside the home with the suspect, who was later identified as 35-year-old Ahmed Mohamed Nassar.
APD said before the officers arrived at the home, a third victim of Ahmed's was able to get out of the house and was located by officers and Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) medics in the neighborhood. She told police that Ahmed still had a knife. At 3:03 a.m., she was taken to a local hospital for treatment for her injuries.
Around the same time, based on the information provided to the patrol officers, APD said the officers made an emergency forced entry into the home on Bernoulli Drive to rescue the other two injured victims. Before they went inside the home, they announced and identified themselves as Austin police officers.
At approximately 3:01 a.m., as the patrol officers entered the home, APD said they were fired upon by Ahmed. The officers did not return fire and backed out of the home.
At this time, because Ahmed was armed and barricaded inside the home with two hostages, a SWAT call was initiated at 3:06 a.m.
At approximately 4:11 a.m., SWAT officers made an emergency entry into the home. Once the SWAT officers were inside a back bedroom, Ahmed fired his gun at them, causing the SWAT officers to return fire, according to APD.
APD said at approximately 4:15 a.m., during the exchange of gunfire, information was provided over police radio that two officers had been shot. Officers and ATCEMS tactical medics who were on the scene moved the injured officers to safety and began to render aid.
The two officers were taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, where APD Senior Officer Jorge Pastore was pronounced dead. The second officer, who has not been identified, underwent surgery for his injuries and was later released.
APD located two apparent victims of Ahmed Nassar inside the home. Those two individuals, later identified as 63-year-old Eyman Elnemrnassar and 32-year-old Riad Nassar, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ahmed was also pronounced dead at the scene.
KVUE obtained the search warrant filed by APD, which revealed the suspect wore body armor and carried a rifle at the time of the shooting.
"Cutting instruments, body armor, and any tactical gear to include firearms were all said to be worn or used by the suspect during the above-mentioned crimes," the warrant stated.
The warrant also listed the following items located within the house:
- Night Vision goggles or anything related that allows for clearer viewing in the dark
- Recording devices, both audio and video
- Cell phone; Computer equipment, including tablets, laptops, or desktop
- Explosive devices or bomb making materials
It also revealed and identified five people associated with the home, but did not reveal the relationships among the five or their exact involvement during the Nov 11. incident.
Crime tape is still up, and FBI agents have been seen going in and out of the home. A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told KVUE officers had to use her home to get through the back of the suspect's home.
"[APD officers] evacuated us and let us know SWAT was coming. And just to get as far away from the area as possible," the neighbor said.
The neighbor said the family who lived there consisted of a mother, a father, two brothers and a sister.
"We never exchanged names, but they were always extremely kind. Specifically, the mom and dad," the neighbor said.
The neighbor said that is how she and others who live in the area will remember the family.
"I think the general consensus of the neighborhood is that those who were attacked, they were kind people," she said.
APD said this incident was captured on officers' body-worn cameras. Video related to this incident will be released within 10 business days, per APD policy.
Three APD officers fired their guns during this incident. One has been with APD for eight years and 11 months, one has been with the department for 11 years and four months and the third officer has been with the department for 16 years and 11 months. Per the department's protocol, all three have been placed on administrative leave.
APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident: a criminal investigation conducted by the department's Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney's Office and an administrative investigation conducted by APD's Internal Affairs Unit with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.
Anyone with any information related to this incident is asked to call APD's Special Investigations Unit at 512-974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. An anonymous tip may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers online.