During a press conference held at 1:15 a.m. Dec. 6, Robin Henderson, Austin Police Department interim chief, said the department believes the suspect in custody for the shooting of an Austin ISD police officer Dec. 5 was also involved in a series of violent incidents in Austin and one in east Bexar County on Dec. 5.
Henderson said the suspect no longer poses a threat to the community and was taken into custody at about 7:14 p.m. Dec. 5.
AISD will provide mental health resources for staff and students affected by the incidents. Classes at Northeast Early College High School remain canceled for Dec. 6, and district officials will announce if classes will resume Dec. 7.
"I'd like to express my deepest condolences to all the victims and their families who have been affected by the series of tragic events," Henderson said Dec. 6.
Henderson also noted the investigation is still in its early phases and information is subject to change.
Updated 12:03 a.m. Dec. 6
A suspect has been apprehended in relation to the shooting of an Austin ISD police officer Dec. 5, AISD officials announced on X, formerly Twitter, Dec. 5.
The suspect from today’s incident @NortheastECHS @InternationalHS has been arrested by police. Classes and after school activities remain canceled tomorrow, Dec. 6; however, the campus will be open during normal hours to students and staff who wish to be on campus for any reason.
— Austin ISD (@AustinISD) December 6, 2023
Austin ISD officials also said there would be resources available for students and staff following a shooting of two civilians as well as an Austin Police Department officer near Kiker Elementary School in the Circle C Ranch Neighborhood of Southwest Austin.
In an email sent to Kiker Elementary families, Principal Cory Matheny said the campus remains safe.
"Our counselors will be prepared tomorrow to support students who may be affected by these events," Matheny said in the email.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar held a press conference at around 10:45 p.m. Dec. 5. During the press conference, he said a suspect had been arrested in Austin for the shooting of two officers, and Austin police notified him the suspect could be connected to two Bexar homicides.
The Austin Police Department was not available for comment. Just before 8 p.m., APD scheduled a press conference for Dec. 5 at Kiker Elementary but announced a location change for the briefing just before 9:30 p.m. to University of St. Augustine, 5401 La Crosse Ave., but a time was yet to be determined. As of midnight, the department has not provided any additional information or answered numerous phone calls.
Updated 7:40 p.m. Dec. 5
Classes and after-school activities at Northeast Early College High School will be canceled Dec. 6 after the shooting of an Austin ISD police officer sent the campus into lockdown on Dec. 5.
AISD officials communicated to families in an email Dec. 5 the campus will still be open during normal hours for students and staff. Buses will run normal morning and afternoon routes so students may access any services or meals. An early afternoon route will also be available to students. No staff are obligated to be on campus.
The investigation is still ongoing, and an arrest has not been made. There will be additional police presence around the campus on Dec. 6. AISD officials will announce Dec. 6 if classes will resume Dec. 7.
Mental health and counseling services will be available to students and staff on campus, AISD officials said.
"I would like to share how proud we are of our students and staff for their commitment to staying safe and following our established protocols," interim superintendent Matias Segura said in a statement Dec. 5. "It's going to take some time to process what we went through today."
Updated 3:11 p.m. Dec. 5
At a 2:30 p.m. press conference, Austin ISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed confirmed a male officer with the district’s police department was shot in the leg earlier in the day and will soon be released from an unnamed hospital. No students were harmed in the shooting.
The timeline Sneed confirmed is as follows:
- At around 10:40 a.m., the unnamed officer requested backup as he was taking on gunfire from an unknown individual in the parking lot of Northeast Early College High School.
- At 10:43 a.m., the school’s assigned resource officer arrived as backup for the shot officer.
- At 10:44 a.m., emergency medical services arrived at the scene.
- At 10:46 a.m., the school was put into a lockdown.
- At 10:47 a.m., officials with Austin Police Department and other law enforcement entities arrived at the scene.
- At 1:47 p.m., students were dismissed classroom by classroom to the Delco Activity Center.
- As of 3 p.m., students are still being dismissed and escorted to a secure location for pickup.
AISD officials were unable to confirm if AISD officers wear body cameras.
As of 3 p.m., no arrests have been made, and the investigation is still ongoing, Sneed said.
AISD officials will provide further communication regarding whether classes will resume Dec. 6 and for mental health services available to the AISD community.
“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the Austin ISD police officer who was shot near Northeast Early College High School today. Our ISD police officers play a critical role in keeping Texas students and school faculty safe," Abbott said in the statement. "The State of Texas is offering all available resources to local law enforcement partners who are working to ensure this dangerous criminal is caught and brought to justice. Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to join us in praying for the officer's swift recovery and the entire Northeast Early College High School community.”
Posted 2:01 p.m. Dec. 5
Northeast Early College High School was placed under lockdown at 11 a.m. Dec. 5 due to “shots heard in the area,” according to Austin ISD communication.
@NortheastECHS is in Lockdown due to shots heard in the area. Police are responding. Please do not come to campus. We will update you as soon as we know more. @Austin_Police @AISDPolice
— Austin ISD (@AustinISD) December 5, 2023
Shortly before noon, AISD officials posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the campus is “safe” but still under lockdown.
As of 1:47 p.m., the campus is still under lockdown. Students are being dismissed classroom by classroom and are being transported in buses to the Delco Activity Center.
An armed suspect did not enter the school but had an altercation with a school resource officer from the Austin ISD Police Department in the parking lot. The officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has been transported to an undisclosed hospital, AISD officials said.
AISD officials have not confirmed if the suspect has been apprehended.
This is a developing story. Community Impact will provide updates as they become available.
