AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) has released body and dashcam footage of an officer-involved shooting that left one man dead in North Austin.
The shooting happened the afternoon of June 12 at Koenig Lane and US 290, near Airport Boulevard.
Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said it began when an officer, later identified as Spencer Bradley, on standard patrol spotted a vehicle disabled in the 800 block of E. Koenig Lane around 12:13 p.m. The officer stopped to check on the man who was flagging him down, described to be in his 30s and standing near the vehicle. Chacon later identified him as Carlos Eli Chacon Castillo, 42.
Within one minute, the officer called dispatch and reported the man was "irate" and had a knife. Three additional officers arrived on the scene within two minutes, according to APD. Those officers were identified as John Zavala, Lonnie Cannon and Dennis Kerlin.
Chacon said around 12:18 p.m., as officers were attempting to get the man to drop the knife, he asked them to "just shoot me." Officials said the man was also speaking in Spanish and that Zavala was also bilingual and communicating with him.
Around 12:20 p.m., the man reportedly advanced toward the officers with the knife in his hands, at which point Bradley deployed a less-lethal round, which Chacon described as "ineffective" at stopping him. He said the man continued to advance toward the officers with the knife in his hands, at which time Zavala deployed his firearm, striking the man.
Chacon said that seconds later, Chacon Castillo got up and advanced toward the officers which prompted Bradley to fire additional less-lethal rounds at Chacon Castillo. The less-lethal rounds didn't deter Chacon Castillo so then Kerlin fired with his gun, striking Chacon Castillo and causing him to fall.
Once the officers could determine that Chacon Castillo no longer had the knife and didn't post a threat, officers attempted life-saving measures until EMS medics arrived on the scene and took the man to the hospital. Around 1:09 p.m., the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Chacon said a knife was recovered from the scene.
A criminal investigation will take place along with an administrative investigation into the officers' actions, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.
The officers that deployed their firearms were Zavala, who has 28 years of service and Kerlin, who has nine years of service with the department. The officer that deployed the less-lethal round, Bradley, has 10 years of service with APD. The three were placed on administrative leave. Cannon is still on active duty as he did not fire any weapons.
You can watch all the body and dashcam videos released relating to this incident on the APD's YouTube page.
Anyone with any information on the incident or additional video is asked to contact APD.
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