APD identifies officers in fatal shooting on March 7
The Austin Police Department has identified the police officers involved in the fatal officer-involved shooting on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.
The man who was shot and killed by police officers was identified as Victor Ancira. Sylvia Ancira, the victim's neice, told FOX 7 that her uncle had a mental illness and police have been sent to their home on Tanney Street several times to help control him.
Read Man with pick axe shot, killed by Austin police
The Officers involved in this shooting are:
- William Johns, (commissioned 3/23/2012)
- Gavin Smart, (commissioned 12/22/2017)
- Michael Rowland, (commissioned 10/28/2016)
- Bryan McCulloch, (commissioned 7/08/2016)
- Timothy Skeen, (commissioned 6/23/2017)
Less Lethal Officers
- Bradley Hoover, (commissioned 10/28/2016)
- Jason Meurer, (commissioned 12/22/2017)
- Cpl Michael Rauert, (commissioned 5/10/2002)
According to the Austin Police Department, units were sent to the neighborhood after receiving a call from a man claiming he just killed his father and brother.
When officers arrived they found Victor Ancira in front of the house wielding a pick axe.
"We can hear commands given, to please drop the weapon, please drop the pickaxe, multiple attempts to get him to drop a weapon,” said interim police chief Brian Manley.
Chief Manley went on to say that three officers fired non-lethal devices several times in attempts to subdue Ancira. Everything, according to the Chief, was recorded on police video.
"What we see happen is the subject races the pickax and comes at the officers at a rapid pace and officers fire at the suspect and he goes down in the driveway,” said Manley.
Chief Manley says the five officers who fired their guns were compelled to end the situation out of concern for the well-being of the people that Ancira claimed he attacked.
Police officers learned after the shooting that no one inside the house was hurt.
All officers involved in this incident are currently assigned to patrol.
As is standard protocol, they have been placed on paid administrative leave.