Austin Police Officer Shoots Suspect After He Approaches Officers With a Knife
Posted on
August 2,2023
Austin, Texas — On Thursday, July 20, 2023, at approximately 4:54 a.m., Austin 911 Communications received a call describing a female banging on an apartment door stating a man was chasing her in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road and requesting police. The caller described a white female wearing blue jean shorts and a turquoise top. The caller said the female was sitting outside his door. At 4:55 a.m., APD officers were dispatched to the call location, and at approximately 5:00 a.m., they arrived on the scene and began speaking with the female who matched the description in the 911 call. The female said a man chased her through the apartment complex, and he had a knife. The female described the male subject as a six feet three inches tall, 60-year-old man with gray hair who was last seen wearing navy blue or black basketball shorts with a dark shirt.
At approximately 5:03 a.m., officers communicated over the police radio the man was last observed running west through the apartment complex. The man was later identified as James Woodrome. At approximately 5:06 a.m., Woodrome approached the officers in the parking lot of the apartment complex while they were speaking to the female. The male subject walked toward the officer while holding a knife in his hands. Officers began to give commands to Woodrome to drop the knife. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by continuously giving commands to Woodrome. He did not comply with the commands and repeatedly yelled at the officers to shoot and kill him. Officer Ricker deployed a Department-approved taser, but the taser deployment was ineffective. Woodrome continued to move forward in the direction of the officers. Officers continued commands to drop the knife and walked backwards to create more distance between them and Woodrome.
Officer Lozano then deployed a Department-approved taser, and it did not affect Woodrome. Woodrome continued to walk toward officers with the knife in his hand. Officer Reinhart discharged his Department-approved firearm toward Woodrome, at which point he fell to the ground. A knife was located on the ground next to Woodrome. Once the scene was made safe by removing the knife, the officers immediately performed life-saving measures and requested medical assistance at the scene. Woodrome succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene at 5:19 a.m. No other civilians or officers sustained physical injuries. The Officer who discharged his Department-approved firearm is Officer Adam Reinhart. The Officers who deployed their Department-approved tasers are Officer John Ricker and Officer Arlene Lozano. Per APD protocol, all three officers have been placed on administrative leave.
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