Early on November 11, 2023, a hostage situation in Austin, Texas, resulted in the deaths of a SWAT officer, two hostages, and the suspect.
At 2:49 a.m., the Austin Police Department (APD) received a harrowing 911 call from a woman in distress on Bernoulli Drive, claiming she was under attack.
Responding officers found an injured woman who had fled from the house and promptly transported her to a hospital. The specifics of her injuries were not revealed. Inside, two additional victims were being held by the suspect, who had a knife and a gun.
The situation worsened when the suspect barricaded himself and the hostages in the house. The APD’s SWAT team was called to the scene. During a rescue operation initiated just after 4 a.m., the suspect shot at the officers, fatally injuring Senior Officer Jorge Pastore and wounding another officer, who is now in stable condition.
Upon securing the scene, officers found two fatally injured victims and the deceased suspect.
Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson called the day “very tragic,” highlighting the perils faced by police officers. Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his heartache and offered prayers to the families of the fallen and injured officers.
This incident is the first in ten years where an APD officer has been killed on duty. The APD, in collaboration with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Police Oversight, is conducting a detailed investigation to determine the lead-up to the shooting.
Officer Jorge Pastore, a 2019 graduate of the Austin Police Academy and commissioned in 2020, served in various roles, including patrolling in Central and South East Austin, and as a member of the SWAT and Special Response Team. Pastore is survived by his wife and two stepsons.