Newly released footage captures a disturbing incident in South Austin, where a man set fire to a house before turning the gun on himself. The Austin Police Department is treating the case as an act of family violence and believes the suspect may be linked to another fire that occurred earlier the same day.
On Wednesday morning at approximately 10:40 AM, a neighbor’s security camera recorded the suspect conversing with two men in the driveway of a residence on Edgeware Drive. The situation escalated when the suspect approached the front of the house, where a gunshot was heard. According to police, he attempted to gain entry by shooting out a window and subsequently threw an object inside, igniting a fire that quickly spread.
As flames erupted, the suspect was seen pacing in the yard while one of the men he had been with made a phone call. Shortly after, police arrived on the scene, with officers drawn and ready to respond. Bystanders were observed near the crime scene, prompting police to instruct them to move to safety.
In a tense standoff, officers attempted to communicate with the suspect, who was positioned between two vehicles in the driveway. Corporal Jose Mendez of the Austin Police Department stated that the suspect disregarded police commands. As he moved from his position, he shot himself, collapsing to the ground after a scream.
Initially, the suspect appeared to be moving while lying on the pavement, prompting officers to warn him against reaching for the firearm. Eventually, the two men who had been talking to him earlier approached the police with their hands raised. Law enforcement quickly moved to provide medical assistance to the suspect while ensuring the scene was secure.
As first responders extinguished the fire inside the home, the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital for surgery. He remains in stable but critical condition, with his identity yet to be disclosed. Authorities describe him as a white male in his sixties. Should he survive, he will undergo a medical evaluation, and charges will be forthcoming.
Additionally, police have indicated that the suspect is also believed to have started a separate fire earlier that day in Travis County, which is currently being investigated by the local fire marshal.
