A Texas police officer with the Austin SWAT team was killed early on Saturday morning in a shooting that left the gunman dead and a second officer wounded.
Two other people were later found dead inside a home in Austin, according to interim Police Chief Robin Henderson.
An emotional Henderson, who paused often during a news conference and appeared to be choking back tears, said officers were called to the home shortly before 3am on Saturday morning by a woman screaming that she was being stabbed.
One person escaped the home before officers arrived, Henderson said, and told police the man in the home was armed with a knife.
Police then tried to enter the home and were met with gunfire, but they did not return fire.
Instead, officers retreated and called for a SWAT team, said Henderson, who did not take questions and was surrounded by about 10 other officers during her comments.
On Saturday evening, the officer was identified as Jorge Pastore, a three-year officer with the department. Officer Pastore was a member of the SWAT team. He was married and had two stepsons.
Austin police SWAT officer Jorge Pastore was killed during a fire fight on Saturday morning. He is the first Austin officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty in a decade
Four people are dead, including Austin police SWAT officer Jorge Pastore, pictured, after a firefight that occurred when police breached a home to try to save two hostages
Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson tearfully spoke to the media about the shooting death of an Austin Police Department officer on Saturday
The Austin Police Department investigates the crime scene after an Austin police officer died following a shooting in South Austin, Texas on Saturday
A second officer was wounded in the shooting early on Saturday that also left the suspected gunman dead
Members of the Austin Police Department are seen on scene investigating the shooting
The Austin Police Department investigates the crime scene that also left the suspected gunman dead
‘At 3:06am, because the suspect was armed and barricaded inside a residence and had two hostages, SWAT was called out,’ Henderson explained. ‘At approximately 4:11am, SWAT officers arrived on scene and forced entry into the residence a second time to rescue the victims.’
‘SWAT officers arrived on scene and forced entry into the residence … to rescue the victims,’ Henderson said.
‘As SWAT officers entered the suspect immediately fired his gun at the officers and the SWAT officers returned fire.’
Two officers and the suspect were struck by the gunfire. The suspect was killed at the scene and the two officers were taken to a hospital, where one died and the second was in stable condition, Henderson said.
‘Two apparent victims of the suspect were located inside of the residence with fatal injuries,’ Henderson said.
An officer bows his head as Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson speaks to the media
Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson speaks at a news conference about the shooting death of an officer
Austin Police Department officers prepare to ride in a procession leaving Dell Seton Medical Center in Downtown Austin following the shooting death of a police officer early on Saturday
A procession including Austin Fire, Police and EMS leaves Dell Seton Medical Center
Members of the Austin Fire Department bow their heads as they prepared to drive in a procession with the fallen office
An Austin Police Department officer removes his hat leaving Dell Seton Medical Center in Downtown Austin following the shooting death of a fellow officer
Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson speaks to the press about the shooting death of an Austin Police Department officer
Multiple officers opened fire, and the shooting will be investigated by both the Austin Police Department’s internal affairs division and the department’s special investigation unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Henderson said.
No names have been released.
‘My heart and the hearts of Austinites are broken this morning. This is a horrible moment for our city and those who protect us,’ Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement.
‘I’m praying for the family of our fallen officer, for our officer who was shot and in surgery and his family.
‘We rely on brave people who are in harm’s way when they are serving us,’ Watson said. ‘This event jarringly brings home that truth.’
The Austin Police Retired Officers Association asked for prayers for both the slain and the wounded officer.
This is the first time in a decade that an APD officer has been shot and killed in the line of duty.
A convoy of emergency vehicle cars made their way through downtown Austin in tribute to the fallen officer
Messages of condolence were tweeted by Austin’s Mayor, Texas Governor and police chief
Austin Police Department officers are pictured shorting before riding in a procession to commemorate the fallen officer
Multiple officers opened fire, and the shooting will be investigated by both the Austin Police Department’s internal affairs division and the department’s special investigation unit
‘Our hearts are heavy this morning with the news of one of our brothers with APD having been shot and killed in the line of duty,’ the statement said on X.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued a statement calling for prayers for the family of the slain officer, for the wounded officer and for the city’s police department.
‘This tragedy is a reminder of the great risks and selfless leadership our law enforcement officers exercise every day to serve and protect their communities,’ Abbott said.