Austin Police Release Preliminary Details in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting Near Hike-and-Bike Trail
AUSTIN, Texas. – The Austin Police Department has released preliminary details and body camera footage following a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning after officers spent nearly three hours searching for a man accused of threatening runners with a handgun.
The incident began at approximately 8:13 a.m. on July 11 when multiple 911 callers reported that a man riding an electric scooter was chasing and threatening runners with a handgun near West Fifth Street and North Lamar Boulevard.
According to the preliminary investigation, the confrontation began after a runner told the man to slow down while riding on the sidewalk. Witnesses told police the suspect became involved in a verbal altercation, used slurs directed at members of the running group, struck a female victim and then pulled a handgun. Police said the suspect pointed the weapon at multiple people and threatened to shoot them before fleeing on the scooter.
Officers arrived within two minutes and began searching for the suspect while collecting witness statements and reviewing surveillance video.
At approximately 10:23 a.m., officers located what they believed was the suspect’s scooter near 1100 West Cesar Chavez Street and continued searching the area.
At 11:07 a.m., officers located a man matching the suspect’s description near the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at B.R. Reynolds Drive and West Cesar Chavez Street. Police identified the man as 29-year-old Emmanuel Diaz.
According to police, Diaz got onto the scooter and attempted to leave. Officers ordered him to stop, but he abandoned the scooter and fled on foot.
During the pursuit, officers reported seeing Diaz armed with a handgun and repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon. Police said Diaz refused to comply, continued running and, after falling to the ground, pointed the handgun at officers.
At approximately 11:08 a.m., Officers Adam Collins and William Johns fired their department-issued weapons, striking Diaz.
Officers immediately took Diaz into custody and began life-saving measures until Austin-Travis County EMS arrived. Diaz was pronounced dead at the scene.
No officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy. Collins and Johns each have 14 years and seven months of service with the Austin Police Department.
The department said two investigations are underway: a criminal investigation by the Special Investigations Unit in coordination with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and an administrative investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit with oversight from Austin Police Oversight.
Police have released radio traffic, 911 audio, body camera footage, cellphone videos and a map related to the incident. Officials emphasized that the investigation remains in its early stages and that the released materials do not necessarily capture everything officers and witnesses experienced during the encounter.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit at 512-974-6840 or Capital Area Crime Stoppers.
