x
Breaking News
More () »

Justin Howell, victim of Austin protest bean bag shooting, now in rehabilitation

Howell's brother provided an update on his condition in an opinion piece titled "Lessons from a war zone."

AUSTIN, Texas — About a month after he was shot by a less-lethal bean bag round by police officers during Austin protests, a Texas State University student who was once in a critical condition is slowly recovering.

Justin Howell's brother, an opinion editor at the Texas A&M University student paper, "The Batallion," provided an update on his condition on Tuesday in an opinion piece titled "Lessons from a war zone."

RELATED: 

'His name is Justin Howell. And he is my little brother.' | 20-year-old struck by less-lethal round in critical condition

'They said my jaw looked like I got hit by a car’ | Austinite hit in face by less-lethal round starts road to recovery

Brother of less-lethal round victim speaks to Austin City Council in public session

"Justin spent the next three weeks in the ICU," Joshua Howell wrote. "Doctors informed my family that the impact from the bean bag caused a brain injury — a brain injury which forced them to heavily sedate Justin for two-and-a-half weeks. During that time he was on a ventilator which could only be removed after a tracheotomy."

Joshua Howell said as doctors worked with his brother, Justin Howell could remember the incident.

"While doctors performed a regular neurological assessment — in which they temporarily reduce the sedative to assess a patient’s brain function — Justin said he recalled bean bags flying in every direction. He remembered being shot. The next thing he knew, 'it was two days later,'" Joshua Howell said. "Actually, it was eight days later."

RELATED: 

'I was frightened, I was scared' | Protester recounts the moment he says Austin police hit him 3 times with bean bag rounds

What are less-lethal rounds? Police explain munitions used in Austin protests

Office of Police Oversight releases complaints related to Austin protests

As of June 23, Joshua Howell said his brother still has to eat from a feeding tube.

"His health improves by the day, but doctors caution his recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint," Joshua Howell said. "He was recently transferred to a long-term rehabilitation facility so he can receive intensive neurological, physical and occupational therapy."

Since the incident, the Austin Police Department has updated several policies, including discontinuing the use of bean bag rounds on protesters. 

RELATED: APD chief addresses police shootings of bystanders with less-lethal rounds; one in critical condition

MORE: 

Austin city manager outlines actionable steps to address systemic inequities in policing

Council approves Austin police reforms amid ongoing police brutality protests

Austin police chief agrees to several policy changes amid nationwide protests

Before You Leave, Check This Out