Shootings This Morning on Springdale

Details are still a little hazy on what City Manager Ott referred to as "an unfortunate set of circumstances," but a press conference held this afternoon has cleared up some confusion. Here's what we know so far: Saturday, police found that a white cargo van related to an aggravated robbery on Friday was based at an apartment on 6409 Springdale. While keeping an eye on this vehicle, cops visiting the complex were told by some residents of another crime that had occurred at the complex: a few men shooting their weapons into the air.

Police found the champagne-colored Mercedes Benz related to these shootings in the parking lot of the apartment complex around 5am this morning, with three men sleeping inside. The driver was apprehended with little incident, but as one of the three cops involved was trying to deal with the suspect in the back seat, the suspect allegedly reached for a weapon. The policeman shot this 18-year-old man. Then the suspect in the passenger seat is said to have run at the officer; the officer went on to shoot him also. Of these two wounded suspects, 18-year-old Nathaniel Saunders died and the other suspect, 21-year-old Sir Lawrence Smith, is in the hospital, expected to make a full recovery.

While police were looking into this incident, they had to block off the area surrounding the complex. Around 10am, cops in riot gear stood ground as some of the distraught, angry and growing crowd of onlookers threw rocks and bottles. Chief Acevedo himself had to dodge a bottle; eight cops were injured and eight patrol cars were damaged by the thrown objects. Three people have been arrested for their part in this violence.

Chief Acevedo asserts that in the upcoming review of this incident, "we will be transparent." In today's press conference, he reported that there were three nearby squad cars with dashboard cameras. The officer involved in the shootings may not have turned his dashcam on, but at least one of the other dashcams recorded both audio and video of the incident (they are checking on the third camera).

For more:
Statesman: Lawyer says 21-year-old injured in officer-involved shooting
KEYE: Officer Kills 1, Wounds 1 In East Austin
News8Austin: 2 shot, 1 dead in officer-involved shooting