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(NSFW) Two Austin Police Officers Mag Dump, Neutralizing Suspect
Published 3 years ago
At approximately 12:03 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 received a “Gun Hotshot” call in the area of 6300 E. U.S. 290 HWY Svrd WB. A motorist stated that they were being shot at by a pursuing vehicle. This caller also said that the suspect vehicle continued to follow and shoot, even as the driver was attempting to flee down various streets.
At approximately 12:05 a.m. a two-officer APD unit observed a vehicle and made contact with the victim driver that had been shot at. The victim was uninjured and provided officers with a description of the suspect’s vehicle and its last known direction of travel. Minutes later, the officers were traveling behind the suspect vehicle in the 6300 block of E. U.S. 290 Hwy Svrd WB and activated their emergency lights.
As the officers stopped the suspect vehicle and exited their patrol vehicle, they immediately took gunfire from the suspect, later identified as 22-year-old Gregorio Sarmiento. The officers returned fire. During the exchange, one of the officers and the suspect were both struck. Officers immediately requested Austin-Travis County EMS on scene for medical assistance.
The officers involved in this critical incident are identified as:
Officer: Jon Riordan #8948 (injured), 2 years of service
Officer: Kingly Kong #9077, 1 year of service
Officer Riordan was in stable condition after undergoing surgery the morning of the incident and has since been released from the hospital. Sarmiento was listed in critical, but stable condition the morning of the incident.
Gregorio Sarmiento has been charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, with a total bond of $1 million dollars.
This incident was captured on body worn camera as well as the in-car camera of the police vehicle. Per APD protocol, both officers have been placed on Administrative Leave. The two officers involved have 1 and 2 years of service with the Department.
