Off-duty deputy dies in Austin bar parking lot shooting

article

AUSTIN - Authorities have apprehended a suspect after a Caldwell County sheriff's deputy was shot and killed in a nightclub parking lot in Austin early Sunday morning.

Club Rodeo fatal shooting

What we know:

Austin Police Department officers were called to Club Rodeo, located at 9515 North Lamar Blvd., just after 2 a.m. The initial report was that an officer from another agency had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found the victim in the parking lot with trauma to his body. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

The victim was identified as a deputy with the Caldwell County Precinct 3 Constables Office. His name has not yet been released.

Investigators believe the deputy was shot by an unknown suspect. The investigation is in its early stages and detectives are working to determine what led to the gunfire.

The suspect was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force with assistance from APD Air Support, K9, and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Local perspective:

"Cops had everything taped off and blocked off, and they were doing what they do," recalls John Dahlberg, who helps out with the flea market which shares the same parking lot with Club Rodeo. On Sunday morning, he arrived at around 5:00 AM to set up shop and was met by a crime scene. 

"The crime scene people were out here looking for evidence and picking up evidence and bagging evidence and all that. Taking fingerprints and stuff."

Vendors in the area told FOX 7 that recently the area around Club Rodeo hasn’t been the safest place to do business. 

"I done rode through after they closed, and I could sometimes see guys fighting. I also heard gunshots. On Sundays over here, I know it’s safe because it’s daytime, but other than that, I don’t come out too much at night because it’s a bad area," says Easy, who also trades at the local flea market. 

"There’s been a nightclub here for over 30 years, different nightclubs, rock, country. Just recently it’s what’s been happening here. It’s this area, they need to redo this whole area," says Dahlberg when asked about safety in the area.

What you can do:

Police are asking anyone who was at Club Rodeo at the time of the shooting to come forward. Detectives specifically requested that the public review cell phone or social media videos and photos that may have captured the moments leading up to, during or after the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program at 512-472-8477.

What's next:

The Austin Police Department plans to host a news conference on Monday afternoon.