A deranged man barricaded in a house in Austin, Texas with two hostages opened fire on police officers and killed a member of a SWAT team.
The violence unfolded in South Austin around 4 a.m. when Austin Police SWAT officers forced entry into the home where the maniac was allegedly armed with a knife and gun and had trapped hostages, Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson announced at a press conference on Saturday morning.
One woman who managed to escape called police just before 3 a.m., screaming for help and saying that she had been stabbed, Henderson said.
Officers responded to the call and forced entry inside but backed out when the suspect opened fire.
The SWAT team was then called and entered around 4 a.m., Henderson said.
“This has been a very tragic day, very tragic incident for all involved,” Henderson said.
The suspect immediately fired and officers responded.
The two officers who were shot were transported to the hospital.
One succumbed to his injuries and the other is in stable condition, said Henderson.
The suspect and two other victims who were still barricaded inside the home were all pronounced dead at the scene, cops said.
It was unclear how the hostages were killed but police were told they were already injured when they responded to the scene.
The officers have not being identified yet, Henderson said, adding that the shootings were caught on police body cameras.
The killing marks the first time in over a decade in which an Austin officer was shot and killed in the line of duty, KVUE reported.
“This is a horrible moment for our city and those who protect us,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a post on X.
“I thank these courageous public servants and ask that our community hold them close, support them, respect them, and lift them up in prayer,” Watson continued.
