A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot by Austin police early Friday morning after officers responded to a report of an armed suspect. The object found in his waistband, and new details about who made the emergency call, are now raising serious questions about how the encounter unfolded.
Austin Teen Fatally Shot by Police After Water Bottle Confusion, Bodycam Reveals
The Austin Police Department said officers were dispatched around 3:51 a.m. on Friday, July 24, to a park on Baden Lane after a caller reported seeing someone who appeared to have a handgun in his waistband. Audio released by police captured the caller saying the person “looked like he has a gun,” while acknowledging uncertainty.
When officers arrived, they encountered a person matching the description and repeatedly instructed him to keep his hands visible. According to Police Chief Lisa Davis, the teen then “very quickly” lifted his sweatshirt and reached toward his waistband.
Body-camera footage shows the movement moments before three officers opened fire at approximately 4:02 a.m. The teenager, identified only as a 17-year-old Black male, was pronounced dead at the scene about 20 minutes later.
Police Say Teen Had Water Bottle, Not Gun
After the shooting, investigators determined the object in the teen’s waistband was a water bottle, not a gun. Per People, authorities also discovered the 911 call originated from the teenager’s own cellphone, leading investigators to believe he may have placed the call himself.
Based on those findings, Davis said detectives are examining whether the incident was potentially a “suicide by police,” though the investigation remains ongoing.
The three officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave while the department conducts both a criminal investigation and an internal review.
Reflecting on the incident, Davis expressed sympathy for the teenager’s loved ones.
“A young man lost his life,” she said. “I cannot imagine the pain and the grief that his family is going through, and I want them to know that I am thinking about them. And I am very sorry about this incident.” Police have not publicly identified the teenager pending confirmation from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
