Michael Minasi / KUT News
Austin Police Officer Shot During Routine Patrol Near Zilker Park
An Austin police officer was shot and wounded early Wednesday morning during what began as a routine curfew check near Zilker Park. The officer is in stable condition following surgery, while the suspected gunman is in custody after a dramatic chase that ended when a homeowner shot the fleeing suspect.
It was the fifth officer-involved shooting in the city so far this year.
Timeline of Events
Early Morning Hours An Austin police officer conducting a routine patrol of Zilker Park encountered a car reported as stolen. The officer called for a tow truck to remove the vehicle.
The Initial Confrontation A man and woman emerged from the tree line near the stolen vehicle. When the officer instructed them to show their hands, the male suspect allegedly shot the woman in the back of the head before opening fire on the officer. The officer was struck but managed to return fire before being rushed to the hospital.
Manhunt Begins Following the shooting, Austin Police deployed significant resources to locate the suspect. SWAT teams, five K-9 units, and the police helicopter Air 1 launched an extensive search for the gunman.
School Campus Encounter The suspect fled to Barton Hills Elementary School just as classes were beginning. An Austin ISD police officer spotted the suspect and called 911, prompting the gunman to flee into the surrounding Barton Hills neighborhood.
Capture and Resolution The suspect broke into a residence, where he was shot in the arm and leg by the homeowner. Police then took him into custody.
Community Impact
The incident triggered a confusing series of emergency alerts for Austin residents. A shelter-in-place order was issued at 5:28 a.m. but was mistakenly lifted at 6:33 a.m. while the suspect remained at large. The order was officially lifted at 9 a.m. after the suspect’s capture.
“I have serious concerns about why that happened myself. And I know there’s questions about that, and I will get to the bottom of why that happened and ensure that there’s processes in place to ensure that it does not happen again. So that never should have been changed.” — APD Chief Lisa Davis
Several Austin ISD schools experienced delays, with Austin High School, Barton Hills Elementary, O. Henry Middle, and Zilker Elementary announcing two-hour delays. However, some students were already on campus during the active manhunt.
Current Status
- Officer: In stable condition at Dell Seton Hospital and out of surgery
- Female victim: Not expected to survive her injuries
- Suspect: In custody and hospitalized for gunshot wounds to the arm and leg
Investigation Continues
Police Chief Lisa Davis called the incident “a nightmare” and expressed concerns about the emergency alert system failures. Davis promised to investigate the alert confusion and ensure proper processes are in place to prevent similar communication breakdowns in the future.
Residents in the Barton Hills neighborhood are still in shock over what happened.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson:
Austin City Council member Zo Qadri:
Austin Police are asking for public assistance and have requested that anyone with information, videos, or photos related to the incident submit them through their online portal or contact APD at 512-974-TIPS.
According to APD, three other officer-involved shootings occurred in May, with seven officers firing their weapons, and another in August, involving three officers. Last year, there were eight shootings involving police; five suspects died, three after pointing a gun at officers, but no officers were shot. (CBS Austin)
A follow-up news conference with additional details is scheduled for Friday.
Austin City Council meets today at City Hall.
Meeting Schedule
- 9:00 AM – Proclamations (5 proclamations including HAAM Day, DAWA Day, Sickle Cell Awareness Month)
- 10:00 AM – City Council convenes with consent agenda
- 10:30 AM – Austin Housing Finance Corporation meeting
- 12:00 PM – Public communication period
- 2:00 PM – Zoning and neighborhood plan amendments
Major Categories of Business
Financial and Contracts (Items 1-37)
Key items include:
- Energy & Utilities: Austin Energy solar incentives ($7.3M), energy efficiency rebates ($7.2M), Austin Water agreements
- Technology: Major IT contracts including temporary staffing ($83.5M total), Bluebeam software services ($2.7M), technology hardware purchases ($10M)
- Construction: West 35th Street water/wastewater pipeline renewal ($2.1M), HVAC maintenance contracts ($58.2M)
- Housing: Displacement Prevention Navigator Program ($1.4M), senior aging services contracts ($2.1M)
Council-Initiated Items (Items 38-47)
- Board and commission appointments
- Event fee waivers for Zilker Theatre, SXSW 2026, various cultural events
- Housing preservation: Resolutions on naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) and homestead preservation districts
Eminent Domain (Item 48)
- Property acquisition for Gilleland Creek drainage project ($15,867)
Public Hearings (Items 50-51)
- Adams-Hemphill Park usage change for stormwater infrastructure
- Sycamores at Pleasant Valley multifamily development financing
Zoning Cases (Items 53-72)
Major development proposals including:
- 4811 SOCO: Mixed-use development on South Congress
- 34th and West: Multiple tracts near UT campus with height increases through density bonus (60-120 feet)
- 500 South Congress PUD: Major planned unit development
- Various other residential and commercial rezoning requests
Legal Settlement (Item 73)
- Settlement in wrongful death case involving Michael Chapman
WATCH THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LIVE here beginning at 10:00 a.m./
Austin firefighters battled an apartment blaze last night in the Bridgehead neighborhood of northwest Austin that displaced several residents.
A 39-year-old woman has been arrested after allegedly recording a mother and her 2-year-old child inside a bathroom at an Austin H-E-B in April. (KVUE-TV)
Advocacy group Rethink35 is suing TxDOT, claiming the department didn’t properly consider the health and environmental impacts of the I-35 Capitol Express project.
Georgetown’s Southwestern University is eager to start work on a 560-acre mixed-use project that could include housing, hotels, shop and much more. (Austin Business Journal)
A new 40-unit domestic violence shelter dedicated to providing safe, short-term housing and services for survivors of domestic violence and their children officially opened in east Austin on Wednesday, the Austin Public Health said in a press release.
Hundreds of thousands of gallons of partially treated wastewater leaked into a creek in Travis County after an “unauthorized discharge” occurred at a wastewater treatment plant in Manor on Tuesday, according to Austin Water.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
AIR QUALITY ALERT
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Remembering 9/11: Texas’s Enduring Connection to America’s Darkest Day
Twenty-four years after the September 11 attacks forever changed America, Texas continues to honor the memory of those lost through solemn commemorations that reflect the state’s deep personal connection to that tragic day.
Texas holds a unique place in the story of 9/11, most notably because President George W. Bush, who was raised in Midland and Houston, Texas, was leading the nation when the attacks occurred. President George W. Bush led the national response in the uncertain days after the attacks, comforted a grieving nation, and demonstrated to the world the strength of American resolve. His immediate response and subsequent leadership during those critical hours and days originated from his Texas roots and values.
The Lone Star State also suffered direct losses on that September morning, with Texans among the nearly 3,000 victims who perished in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. Flight attendants, business travelers, and other Texans were aboard the hijacked aircraft or working in the targeted buildings, making the tragedy deeply personal for communities across the state.
Today, Texans commemorate 9/11 through various meaningful ceremonies and observances. The City of McAllen Fire Department will gather to honor the lives lost, the heroes who answered the call at their remembrance ceremony. In Cedar Park, Texas, Hunter-Morris American Legion Post 911 is hosting its annual Sept. 11th remembrance ceremony. Communities across North Texas are coming together for a day of remembrance with local fire departments, police stations, and veteran organizations leading many of these efforts.
The George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas serves as a particularly poignant site for 9/11 remembrance, housing extensive exhibits and archives documenting that pivotal period in American history. Military installations throughout Texas, including Joint Base San Antonio, also hold special ceremonies honoring the fallen and reflecting on the day’s lasting impact.
From small-town fire stations to major metropolitan ceremonies, Texans approach September 11th with the same spirit of resilience and community that has long defined the state. These annual observances ensure that the memory of 9/11 victims and heroes remains alive, while reinforcing Texas’s commitment to never forgetting the lessons learned from America’s darkest day.
Austin Fire Department chief Eddie Martinez was deployed to New York City with Texas Task Force One on Sept. 11, 2001.
As we mark another anniversary, Texas continues to demonstrate that remembrance is not just about looking back, but about carrying forward the values of courage, unity, and determination that emerged from tragedy.
H-E-B partners are honoring Texas fire, police and EMS stations.
Texas political leaders joined a chorus of national condemnation Wednesday evening following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement praising Kirk for his conservative outreach to young people, expressing that he and First Lady Cecilia Abbott were “heartbroken by the assassination and passing of Charlie.” The governor’s office emphasized Kirk’s role in mobilizing conservative youth across the nation.
Abbott ordered U.S. and Texas flags outside all state government buildings to be lowered to half-staff Wednesday following Kirk’s killing.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz described the shooting as “horrific” and called Kirk’s murder “an act of unspeakable evil”, reflecting the shock reverberating through Texas’s conservative political establishment. Other Texas officials, including State Representative Dustin Burrows, expressed solidarity with Kirk’s family and called for faith and strength during this difficult time.
A Texas city council member is facing fierce backlash after sharing an old quote from Kirk in which he appeared to defend gun deaths as an unfortunate but acceptable cost for preserving Second Amendment rights. (Chron)
The assassination occurred during Kirk’s “American Comeback” tour, with Utah authorities reporting that the shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a rooftop on campus. A manhunt for the suspected shooter remains ongoing, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Political Implications
This tragic event threatens to further inflame political tensions both nationally and in Texas. Kirk was a close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters. His death removes a significant voice in conservative youth activism at a time when political divisions remain deeply entrenched.
For Texas specifically, Kirk’s death may galvanize conservative voters and activists who saw him as an effective messenger for their cause. The state’s large conservative youth movement, which Kirk helped cultivate through Turning Point USA’s campus presence, now faces the challenge of continuing their work without one of their most prominent national leaders.
The cost of owning a home in Texas grew in 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday, even as state lawmakers have taken steps to dramatically cut property taxes. (Texas Tribune)
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What to know about Texas House Rep. James Talarico, the newcomer shaking up the race for U.S. Senate.
Solving the Atari game mystery that’s been lingering for decades – and its connections to El Paso.
(Episode from September 9, 2025)
A Tarrant County man has been charged with capital murder for allegedly beheading another man at a Dallas motel.
A 29-year-old man was arrested in Hidalgo County on Saturday on charges of stalking San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and his wife, Lourdes. (Texas Public Radio)
SPORTS
MLB: When you’re in the hunt for a spot in the postseason, it’s all about getting hot at the right time.
Jake Burger homered twice and the playoff-chasing Texas Rangers beat Milwaukee 6-3 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep of the Brewers, who still have the best record in the majors. (Yahoo! Sports)
In Toronto, the Astros get a W.
Yainer Diaz drilled a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, Carlos Correa hit his 200th career homer and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Rangers have the day off.
AL WEST STANDINGS
WILD CARD RACE
Texas Longhorns Football – UTEP Preview | LIVE | 9/11/25
We’re heading north to Waco to visit the Magnolia Silos.
