Travis County Grand Jury Clears Officers in 2022 Shooting Incident

On December 7, 2023, Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced that the Travis County Special Grand Jury had completed its review of the August 8, 2022, shooting incident involving Texas Department of Safety (DPS) Trooper Austin Ostrander (#15248) and Austin Police Department (APD) Officer Michael Bradburn (#9444). The grand jury did not return an indictment for either the trooper or the officer.

Mr. Brandon Munoz sustained a gunshot wound during the incident on August 8, 2022, which involved Trooper Ostrander and Officer Bradburn.

The incident unfolded around 11:15 p.m. on August 8, 2022, when Officer Bradburn pulled over a motorcyclist on Cameron Road and US 290 for operating a vehicle without a license plate, according to APD. Munoz, the motorcyclist, began running away from the scene as Bradburn chased him. The situation escalated when Bradburn observed Munoz carrying a gun.

APD reported that Officer Bradburn repeatedly instructed Munoz to drop the weapon. DPS Trooper Ostrander, monitoring the APD radio in the vicinity, responded to assist in the foot chase.

Munoz allegedly ran towards a shopping center at the intersection and attempted to carjack an unrelated vehicle parked there, instructing its occupant to start driving. It was at this critical juncture that both Officer Bradburn and Trooper Ostrander discharged their weapons, striking Munoz while he was inside the vehicle.

Officers administered life-saving measures on Munoz until medical personnel arrived and transported him to a local hospital with critical injuries. Subsequently, Munoz faced charges of aggravated kidnapping in connection with the incident.

District Attorney Garza stated, “The District Attorney’s office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously. In this case, an independent group of members of the Travis County community heard the evidence and law and decided that Officer Bradburn’s and Trooper Ostrander’s conduct was not unlawful.”

The announcement comes after the grand jury’s thorough examination of the case, with a total of 91 cases against law enforcement officers presented to a grand jury since January 1, 2021. Including this case, 58 times the grand jury has returned a no bill.