Trayvon Redux: Austin Cop Shoots and Kills Negro Male Who was Trying to Kill Him; Community Outraged at Cop, for Refusing to Die; Second Police

Refusal-to-Die Incident in 11 Months

Posted by Nicholas Stix

Man dead in officer-involved shooting in East Austin
ByJazmine Ulloa, Patrick George and Tony Plohetski
American-Statesman
Thursday, April 5, 2012,10:53 p.m.
Updated on Thursday, April 5, 2012, 11:03 p.m.
Updated at 1:11 a.m.

An Austin police officer fatally shot a man Thursday night after authorities said a traffic stop quickly escalated.

Assistant Police Chief David Carter said the incident — which brought an outpouring of concern [N.S.: Read rage] from nearby residents and others — started shortly after 6:30 p.m. in East Austin near 51st Street when an officer on patrol stopped a car for reasons that officials did not immediately describe.

The car's driver, described as a black man who was about 30 years old, drove off, pulled over a short distance away and began to flee on foot. The officer, who was not immediately identified, chased the man and caught up to him as he tried to jump a fence, Carter said.

The man, whose identity also has not been released, broke free of the officer and fled again, authorities said.

Carter said the officer reached the man a second time along Overbrook Drive, near Manor Road and 51st Street, and that "there was a physical altercation that went on for some time."

He said the officer attempted during the chase to use his Taser stun gun to subdue the man but that "it was not effective."

Carter said that at one point, the officer and the man struggled for control of the officer's gun and that the officer then fired what investigators say was one to three shots.

Officers performed CPR on the man, but he died at the scene a short time later, officials said.

The officer was being treated for a hand injury, possible broken bones and a neck injury, said Carter, who is the department's chief of staff. Investigators have patrol car video of the traffic stop and audio of the chase, Carter said.

The shooting brought immediate questions and concerns from some in the community, who expressed anger Thursday night over the death of another minority at the hands of police.

"Something has got to change," said Audrey Steiner, who lives in the area. "I am furious."

Residents poured out of their homes and passers-by pulled over to try to find out what had happened. Some wiped away tears, and at least one openly sobbed as others hugged her.

Shortly after 8 p.m., a crowd of more than 100 people had gathered near the scene and rocks were thrown in the direction of at least one police car, which sustained a broken window. Some officers donned riot gear. [See what I mean about "concern"?]

The tense [concerned] situation seemed to be defused when one bystander collapsed and officials rushed in to tend to her.

"This is an incredibly unfortunate incident," City Council Member Sheryl Cole said Thursday night. "At this time, we simply must be patient and learn the facts."

Nelson Linder, president of the Austin chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said: "Anytime there's a loss of [black criminal, as opposed to law enforcement] life, it's a very tragic situation. We're concerned because these things keep happening." [Yes, black men keep trying to murder policemen.]

The shooting occurred a month after a controversial police shooting in East Austin last year reached some resolution.

Austin police officer Nathan Wagner fatally shot Byron Carter Jr. in May after authorities have said a car in which Carter was a passenger sped toward Wagner's partner, striking and injuring him. Wagner was not indicted by a Travis County grand jury last month. [How was that controversial? Blacks thought the cop had a duty to die.]

Contact Tony Plohetski at 
445-3605

[Thanks to reader-researcher RC for this story.]