AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department released body camera video on Thursday afternoon from an officer who fired shots at a car driving away from an alleged drive-by shooting in north Austin over the weekend.
APD Chief Lisa Davis said an officer saw a passenger in a vehicle pull a gun and fire toward a person on the sidewalk. The incident happened near Northgate Boulevard and Rundberg Lane around 12:40 a.m. Saturday. Davis said the person fell on the ground following the incident.
The officer, identified as James McKinney, was placed on administrative leave, per APD protocol. McKinney has been with APD for a year and five months, police said.
“Additional APD officers responded to the scene to check for any possible victims, but did not locate any injured individuals. However, ballistic evidence was found at the scene,” APD said in a release
In the video player above, APD Chief Lisa Davis gives an update in a news conference about the officer firing at a vehicle north Austin.
Davis said that, after the officer saw the alleged drive-by shooting, he followed the car and gave commands for the car to stop. The officer fired two shots, hitting the passenger side window. The car continued to drive for a short time before it was found. A 16-year-old boy was found inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound to his neck. Investigators are still working to determine whether the teen was shot by McKinney or by someone else in the car.
Police said charges are pending against the 16-year-old. He is currently at a local hospital for treatment.
APD policy on firing at vehicles
“In this case, the officer involved made a decision based on what he witnessed and believed was an imminent threat to the safety of our community. It was crucial for him to act quickly and effectively to contain the situation,” Davis said.
According to APD policy, officers are prohibited from discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle unless the officer reasonably believes that a person in the vehicle is immediately threatening the officer or other person with serious bodily injury or death by means other than the vehicle itself (e.g. driver firing at the officer or others with a firearm).”
Police said four suspects left the vehicle on foot and three were found and charged following the incident. Another suspect has not been found.
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