AUSTIN, Texas — An Austin police officer is still in the hospital on Monday following a hostage situation and shootout in South Austin on Saturday morning.
During that shootout, Senior Officer Jorge Pastore was shot and killed in the line of duty. The suspect was also killed, and two apparent victims of the suspect were found dead inside the home.
A memorial stands outside of the Austin Police Department Headquarters for Pastore. It includes a picture of him surrounded by flowers, including red roses.
"It's tragic weekend for Austin, obviously, a tragic weekend for the Austin Police Department family," said Dennis Farris, president of the Austin Police Retired Officers Association.
Farris knew Pastore.
"Great, great young man. It’s kind of numbing," he said. "He's just one of the people that came across like a really friendly guy. If you look at the pictures that have been put out, it’s that smile you see and that's what you see. And that's what everybody needs to remember, and we need to honor him from that."
Farris said Pastore was someone you could always depend on.
Early Saturday morning, officers, including Pastore, responded to a home in South Austin for reports of a stabbing. Pastore was killed in the line of duty responding to that call.
"I hope they truly remember the sacrifice Jorge made because he went into save somebody while we knew … bullets have been fired. They went into the house knowing the guy inside the guy had a gun and he already shot at officers, and that is probably the most heroic thing anybody could ever do," Farris said.
Farris said this is obviously a difficult time for officers, which he calls a brotherhood.
"It’s going to be a tough week and a tough time afterwards," he said.
Farris said the police department does have a peer support system and resources available.
"Officers that go around to make sure everybody is OK," Farris said about the support network. "We have a very good chaplain core at the department also. And then they have each other, people that will talk and reminisce."
Pastore is survived by his wife and two stepchildren.