17-year-old killed by Austin officers was not armed: APD chief

Officers responded to a call that someone had a gun near a neighborhood park in northeast Austin. Police later determined the person who was shot was the 911 caller.

AUSTIN, Texas — An unarmed 17-year-old was shot and killed by police at a northeast Austin park early Friday morning, the Austin Police Department (APD) has confirmed.

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 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 the person “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 at the male, 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.

The victim, identified as a 17-year-old Black male who had no previous contact with APD, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:25 a.m. Davis said his name will be released once his family has made all of their notifications.

Officers did not locate a gun at the scene, and Davis said it was later determined that the victim had a water bottle in his waistband. It was also determined that the victim was the 911 caller because the call came from his phone. Davis said that the situation indicates the victim’s intention was “suicide by police.”

Davis said APD is now canvassing the area for witnesses and video and preparing to interview the officers involved, who have been identified as 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.

“Officers are often required to make life or death decisions in seconds. This was a rapidly evolving incident,” Davis said. “Our commitment now is to examine the facts, the evidence, the officers’ actions and the applicable law.”

No officers or any other community members were injured during this incident.

Community reaction

Social justice advocates say the body camera video is difficult to watch and argue the shooting could have been prevented.

Chas Moore with the Austin Justice Coalition said that while he appreciates the department’s quick release of information, he finds it exhausting to continue to see shootings like this. He added that there should be a greater push to include mental health-trained professionals in these types of emergency calls.

“The police needed help in that situation just as bad as he needed help because they didn’t know what to do,” Moore said. “They’re trained to eliminate a threat. When they saw him reach, they did what they’re trained to do. We need people that are trained to help people in those types of situations.”

Moore also said city leaders continue to make cuts to social services, including mental health resources, and placed blame on leadership.

“This has been going on for 20-30 years, where we see people that are under mental duress that need help and we send the people that are least qualified to help them. That’s not the fault of the police,” Moore said. “I think that is the fault of the leadership in the city that is seeing the issue, but do not have the gall or gonads to do something about it.”

Moore encouraged residents to contact city leaders directly.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson responded in a texted statement:

“We should avoid attacks and unsubstantiated claims. The focus must remain on the investigation and the facts of the case.”