The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) recently released videos and other materials related to a fatal shooting by a Chicago police officer in Austin on September 6. The incident occurred when officers responded to a burglary in progress involving suspects inside a vehicle. The vehicle struck the officers’ squad cars, leading to one officer firing his weapon and killing one of the individuals inside. Another suspect was arrested at the scene, while a third suspect fled and remains at large. A gun was recovered at the scene.
The newly released footage shows two squad cars blocking the suspect’s vehicle, with officers loudly yelling and trying to open the car doors with their guns drawn. The officer who fired his weapon is seen rounding the back of the moving vehicle when a crash is heard, followed by the officer screaming in pain. He then fires multiple rounds through the vehicle’s rear window. Dashcam footage shows officers removing two men from the front passenger side of the vehicle, while a third person runs from the rear driver-side door and escapes.
Body camera footage from the shooting officer shows the chaos of the incident, with the second man removed from the front seat claiming he has been shot and blood visible on the pavement. The officer who fired his weapon detains one of the suspects, stating that he was hit by the car. Despite suffering non-life-threatening injuries, the officer continues to pursue the fleeing suspect.
COPA’s investigation into the shooting and the officers’ use of force is ongoing. A CPD traffic crash report revealed that the driver of the suspect’s vehicle intentionally reversed into the officer, causing him to be pinned between two vehicles and sustaining injuries to his back and legs.
All materials related to the incident, including full videos, are available on COPA’s website. This detailed account of the events provides insight into a tragic incident that unfolded in Austin, shedding light on the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in high-pressure situations.
