In the early hours of November 11, 2023, a tragic hostage situation unfolded in Austin, Texas, resulting in the deaths of a SWAT team officer, two hostages, and the suspect.
The Austin Police Department (APD) received a distressing 911 call around 2:49 a.m. from a woman screaming for help, claiming she was being attacked in the 9300 block of Bernoulli Drive.
Officers quickly responded to the scene and found an injured woman who had escaped the house. She was rushed to a local hospital, but details about her injuries remain undisclosed. Inside the house, two more victims remained captive with the armed suspect.
The crisis intensified when the suspect, who also possessed a firearm, barricaded himself and the hostages inside. APD’s SWAT team was deployed to the location. In an effort to save the hostages, SWAT officers entered the house around 4 a.m. The suspect responded with gunfire, hitting two officers. Senior Officer Jorge Pastore, part of the SWAT unit, was fatally shot. The second officer sustained injuries but is currently stable.
Upon securing the house, the officers discovered two victims who had suffered fatal injuries. The identities of these victims, along with the deceased suspect, are not yet public.
Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson called the day “very tragic,” emphasizing the dangers law enforcement faces in such situations. Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his sorrow over the event and sent his prayers to the families of the deceased and injured officers.
This incident is the first in ten years where an Austin Police Department officer was killed on duty. A comprehensive investigation by the APD, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Police Oversight is underway to understand the events leading to this tragic incident.
Officer Jorge Pastore, a graduate of the Austin Police Academy in 2019 and commissioned in 2020, patrolled Central and South East Austin. He was also a member of the SWAT and Special Response Team. Officer Pastore is survived by his wife and two stepsons.
