Police have identified the man who was shot by an officer during a domestic disturbance call and attempted suicide Tuesday.
The Austin Police Department said Jason Sebastian Roque, 20, was shot by Officer James Harvel. Interim Police Chief Brian Manley said officers were dispatched to the 11300 block of Long Winter Drive shortly after 11 a.m. May 2 due to reports a man who had attempted suicide was waving a gun around. Police also received a call from a woman who said she had gotten into a verbal disturbance with her son.
The woman told police Roque had a gun in his front pocket, and Manley said he refused to comply with verbal demands of police as they approached him. When Roque started to walk toward his mother, Manley said the officer (Harvel) fired at him in defense of her.
Roque was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Per standard protocol, Harvel - who has been the department for nearly 17 years - is on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday released a statement following the shooting.
"The investigation will show in today’s incident, the Officer took action to protect innocent lives," the statement read in part.