\n Three officers fired multiple rounds as Williams, who is Black, fell to the ground at a playground, video shows. First responders attempted to save his life, but the teenager died at the scene, the Austin Police Department said in a statement<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n Williams was unarmed, with a water bottle in his waistband, police later determined.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAll points are indicating that this was a suicide by police,\u201d Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference Friday, noting this remains an active investigation. The initial 911 call was made from Williams\u2019 phone, they added.\n <\/p>\n \n The teen\u2019s death has fueled outrage from city officials and community members who are calling for greater police accountability and has reignited a conversation about what mental health support can be provided before deadly force is used. The three officers who opened fire have been placed on administrative leave, per protocol, and the shooting is under investigation, police said.\n <\/p>\n \n Police have said the 911 caller was asked whether mental health services were needed and had requested a police response.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAt no point during the call was this identified as a mental health crisis, and the caller disconnected before additional information could be obtained despite callback attempts,\u201d Austin Police said in a statement to CNN affiliate KEYE<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n The police department last week released audio of the 911 call, which begins with the dispatcher asking, \u201cDo you need police, fire, EMS or mental health services?\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cPolice,\u201d the caller responds.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI\u2019m looking out my window. There seems to be a kid. It looks like he has a gun \u2026 He keeps on messing with his waistband and I seen something in his hands,\u201d the caller reported, according to the audio. \u201cIt looks like a firearm but I\u2019m not sure.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The person was \u201cbrandishing\u201d a firearm but was by himself, the caller said, answering questions from dispatch.\n <\/p>\n \n Officers who responded located Williams and \u201cattempted to gain compliance by giving verbal commands to keep his hands up and asking him if he was okay,\u201d Davis said.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cOfficers are often required to make life or death decisions in seconds,\u201d the police chief added. \u201cThis was a rapidly evolving incident.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Flowers, candles and tributes to Williams poured into the playground at the community park where he was killed. As the community mourns the teenager, his death has also fueled calls for better access to mental health resources for young people.\n <\/p>\n \n Since the police killing of George Floyd in 2020<\/a>, some cities nationwide have heeded calls to reallocate money away from law enforcement and into mental health and social services. Others have shifted the responsibility of responding to non-violent mental health crisis calls to trained civilian programs rather than police, such as Los Angeles and Baltimore.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThis tragedy is a reminder that access to timely mental health and behavioral health care and support can make a meaningful difference for individuals and families facing a crisis,\u201d Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison said in a statement<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n Austin police are conducting a criminal investigation with the Travis County District Attorney\u2019s Office, as well as an administrative investigation through their internal affairs unit, police said in a news release.\n <\/p>\n \n The Travis County District Attorney\u2019s Office told CNN it will conduct an independent review of the shooting after the police department concludes its investigation and turns over evidence.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cOur hearts go out to the family and friends of Anthoneil Williams II. We are committed to ensuring a thorough review,\u201d the office said.\n <\/p>\n \n CNN has reached out to the Austin Police Department and Austin mayor\u2019s office for additional comment.\n <\/p>\n \n Over the past few days, a vigil was held to grieve the teenager before he was identified and protesters marched in the city\u2019s downtown to stand in solidarity with Williams\u2019 family and call for accountability.\n <\/p>\n \n Some marched to the office of Travis County District Attorney Jos\u00e9 P. Garza to demand he bring charges against the officers involved in the shooting.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cPeople are angry,\u201d an attendee who only identified himself as David T. said at the vigil Saturday, according to CNN affiliate KVUE<\/a>. \u201cPeople understand there needs to be something done.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Williams\u2019 friends described the teenager as selfless and a good friend at the vigil over the weekend, according to KVUE<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIt breaks my heart. I\u2019m speechless. Everybody\u2019s broken. It\u2019s like they took a part of me with them when they took him,\u201d said Ameer Alogaili, who described being friends with Williams since they were 11 years old.\n <\/p>\n \n Another friend, Santiago Aguirre, said at the vigil Williams always prioritized others no matter what he was going through, according to KVUE.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cWith him, it didn\u2019t matter how he was feeling. He always put people first,\u201d Aguirre said.\n <\/p>\n \n Some Austin City Council members have released statements on social media calling for a transparent investigation.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAs we debate next year\u2019s budget and ask the public to trust our public safety institutions, that trust will be earned through transparency and accountability,\u201d said Councilman Zo Qadri in a social media post.<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n The Austin Justice Coalition<\/a>, a local community group, decried Williams\u2019 killing and called for accountability.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cEvery loss of life is heartbreaking. Every family deserves answers,\u201d Austin City Council member Jos\u00e9 Vel\u00e1squez said in a statement<\/a> Saturday. \u201cAnd our community deserves to know that every possible effort was made to respond with compassion, care, and de-escalation during a mental health crisis.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Neighbors who live near the site described being unsettled by the police shooting taking place in their community park where children play.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThe footage was disturbing because it hit home,\u201d Jeffrey Metzger told KVUE<\/a>. \u201cIt was right on the jungle gym where my grandchildren play, and we swim in the pool, and I know we\u2019ll be thinking of that.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Amairelys Flores, who lives across the street from where Williams was killed, said she heard multiple rounds of gunfire early Friday morning, according to KEYE<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n Police, she told KEYE, should confirm there is an active threat before using deadly force. \u201cFour a.m., you see a boy right there and what are you gonna do?\u201d Flores said. \u201cProbably, that boy needs help.\u201d\n <\/p>\n ![\"Austin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c-gettyimages-2288036177.jpg\")
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