Community members call for accountability after teen shot and killed by Austin police

Thursday’s tense council meeting at Austin City Hall came nearly one week after police shot and killed 17-year-old Anthoneil Williams II.

AUSTIN, Texas — Calls for accountability are growing after a 17-year-old was shot and killed by Austin police on July 24.

Anthoneil Williams II was shot by officers at a northeast Austin park after police responded to a report of a person with a gun. Authorities later said no weapon was found at the scene.

The shooting has led to protests and debate over the Austin Police Department’s budget.

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During Thursday’s Austin City Council meeting, several community members filled council chambers, chanting and calling for accountability. Budget discussions were briefly paused as Austin police escorted some people out of the building.

Outside Austin City Hall, demonstrators held posters of Williams and continued calling for answers following his death.

Police said Williams called 911 himself Friday morning and reported seeing someone in a parking lot with a gun. According to police, officers gave Williams commands after arriving at the scene, and he reached toward his waistband. Three officers then fired several shots.

Police later determined the item in Williams’ waistband was a water bottle.

While the investigation remains ongoing, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said that the situation indicates his intention was “suicide by police.” However, community members who gathered Thursday disputed that and argued the situation was not handled properly.

Protesters are also calling on the city council to keep the police department’s budget flat as council members continue discussions on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Chas Moore with the Austin Justice Coalition said the city should prioritize investments in community services.

“Police already have a $400-plus million budget. That’s more than enough to do all the things they need to do,” Moore said. “The one thing we have not done in this city around the country is invest primarily and heavily in social services.”

The proposed Fiscal Year 2027 city budget would increase funding for the police department by more than $24 million, bringing the department’s total budget to nearly $550 million.

The Austin Police Association said the additional funding would help the department continue moving in the right direction.

“It’s being able to meet again those contractual obligations that the city has. But then, it also means that we’re kind of able to continue the path that we are on. So what we’ve seen and the chief highlighted part of this, was that our attrition rate is on a downward trend, which is good,” said Michael Bullock, president of the Austin Police Association. “And then that also allows us to work more towards recruiting and trying to fill the gaps that we have.”

Bullock said keeping the department’s budget flat would have significant impacts, because funding has already been committed under the city’s five-year police labor contract.