AUSTIN — Two officers won't be prosecuted for shooting at a 27-year-old man, who allegedly threatened a woman believed to be his mother with a weapon and assaulted her before police got involved in early August, according to Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore.
The suspect was identified in an arrest affidavit as Craig Anthony Carter. According to online records, he is charged with attempted capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His combined bond has been set at $500,000, online records showed.
According to Moore, the officers who fired their weapons, Officer Kendrick Witt and Officer Douglas Trahan, won't be indicted, and the DA's office has concluded its review of the shooting involving Carter.
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said that sometime around 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, Carter knocked on a door in the 4700 block of Chiappero Trail. Manley said a woman -- possibly Carter's mother -- opened the door before the suspect pointed a semi-automatic handgun at her. Manley said he believes the suspect told her to get on her knees and he assaulted her.
Shortly after the suspect left, Manley said the woman called 9-1-1.
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The suspect reportedly walked several houses down the street and stabbed tires on a vehicle nearby. Several people called 9-1-1 to report the disturbance and to report that a man in their neighborhood had a gun. The suspect reportedly took off in a black car.
Manley said officers spotted the vehicle at 8:48 a.m. When they tried to stop the suspect, he led them on a chase, which Manley said lasted about 10 minutes. During the chase, the affidavit said Carter drove above the speed limit, didn't stop at posted traffic control signs and maneuvered through cars that were slowed or stopped. At one point during the chase, the affidavit said Carter hit another vehicle, causing minor damage.
The chase came to a stop at the intersection of Spicewood Springs Road and Mesa Drive.
An officer was able to stop the vehicle, and Manley said officers started telling him to get out of his car and show his hands. When the man got out of his car, Manley said the suspect instead took out his gun, and he and two other officers started firing gunshots.
Carter tried to run away, but collapsed several feet from his vehicle due to gunshot wounds, the affidavit said. The man had to undergo surgery for his injuries, Manley said.
Manley said this was not the first time law enforcement has dealt with this particular suspect.
Manley said Witt and Trahan are on paid administrative leave and have both been with the department for about five years.
Daniel Turbin works nearby and told KVUE he drives through the same intersection every day. He said he was shocked to hear that a shooting had happened in what he considers to be a very safe area.
"This is a really safe neighborhood. Generally you don't need to lock your doors or anything like that," said Turbin, adding that there are lot of families and schools in the area. "I don't know who this person is but just to be on this side of town it makes you just a little uneasy and definitely makes you keep a watchful eye out."
The shooting happened near a number of businesses as well as Anderson High School. Anderson High School's band was practicing at the time of the shooting, a father told KVUE. He said his daughter texted him, saying she heard the gunshots during practice. He said parents received the following email from the school following the incident:
Good morning Anderson Band families,
Everyone is safe and secure – I just wanted to let you know if you have not heard, this morning there was an incident involving an APD officer shooting on Mesa and Spicewood. According to news reports, there was a high speed chase that resulted in shots fired at that intersection. Precautions were taken by band staff and AISD Police Department assured directors the situation was contained and our students were safe.
-Ms. Gonzalez
Manley said his department will continue to investigate the incident.
This case is being investigated by the APD’s Internal Affairs Unit and monitored by the Office of the Police Monitor. Carter's charges are pending in a Travis County District Court, according to Moore.
The Travis County DA's Office said they will issue a formal letter containing more factual details on why they chose not to pursue an indictment against the Austin police officers after the criminal matters against Carter are resolved.