The unarmed 17-year-old was shot and killed by police at a northeast Austin park early Friday morning after officers responded to a call of a person with a gun.
AUSTIN, Texas — We now know the identity of the unarmed teen killed by Austin police in a neighborhood park last week.
Sources familiar with the investigation confirmed to KVUE that 17-year-old Anthoneil Williams II was killed in the incident early Friday morning.
APD Police Chief Lisa Davis said the incident began at 3:51 a.m., when a 911 caller said a male was in a parking lot with a gun. The caller provided a description and said the person was, at times, brandishing the gun.
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Officers arrived at the scene in the 10100 block of Baden Lane, near Dessau Road, within two minutes and began searching for the person. David said they located a person – now identified as Williams – who matched the description given by the caller at a playground in a neighborhood park. According to Davis, officers made contact with the person, telling him to keep his hands up and asking if he was OK.
Davis said he “very quickly, very suddenly” raised his shirt with one hand and reached into his waistband with the other. It was at this time, 4:02 a.m., that three officers fired several shots, though the number of shots is unclear at this time.
Davis said once officers secured the scene and determined there were no additional threats., they began rendering aid until medics arrived. Davis said aid was rendered within seven minutes.
Williams, a 17-year-old Black male who had no previous contact with APD, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:25 a.m.
Officers did not locate a gun at the scene, and Davis said it was later determined that the individual had a water bottle in his waistband. It was also determined that he was the 911 caller because the call came from his phone. Davis said that the situation indicates his intention was “suicide by police.”
Davis said the officers involved are Officers Alexis Cruz, Jake Pitcher and Avery Zucchi. Cruz has been with APD for three years and nine months; Pitcher for three years and five months; and Zucchi for two years and 10 months.
Per department protocol, all three have been placed on administrative leave.
No officers or any other community members were injured during the incident.