A homeowner in Austin, Texas, took decisive action against a suspect who had already committed multiple violent crimes. On Wednesday morning, 30-year-old Brandon Thompson shot a police officer and a woman before entering the homeowner’s property. Thompson was later charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer and burglary of a residence.
The incident unfolded when Senior Police Officer Adam Reinhart, who was patrolling near Zilker Park, noticed a stolen vehicle. As he awaited a tow truck, two individuals approached from the nearby trees—one male and one female. The officer instructed them to show their hands, but the male suspect drew a firearm and opened fire, striking the woman in the back of the head and hitting Officer Reinhart as well. Police Chief Lisa Davis explained, “He continued to fire, striking our officer. At that point, our officer was able to pull his weapon and return fire.”
Officer Reinhart was rushed to the hospital and remains in stable condition. Unfortunately, the woman suffered more severe injuries and is not expected to survive. Hours after these incidents, Thompson was spotted near an elementary school. He fled into a nearby home, where the homeowner shot him—reportedly hitting him in the arm and leg.
Chief Davis verified that Thompson was in stable condition after receiving treatment for his injuries. “I want to tell you that shelter-in-place saved my life, it saved our family,” the homeowner said, emphasizing the importance of being alerted to the danger. Earlier, the police department had issued a shelter-in-place warning that later experienced a technical glitch, changing it to an “avoid the area” alert.
Davis expressed her concerns over this mishap, stating, “I have serious concerns about why that happened myself, and I know there are questions about that, and I will get to the bottom of why that happened.” She assured that measures would be implemented to prevent such issues in the future.
This incident highlights the complex dynamics of public safety, law enforcement responses, and the critical role that timely communication plays in emergencies. The homeowner’s quick thinking in defending his property serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced in everyday life, especially when aggressive crime becomes part of the narrative.
"*" indicates required fields
