RRPD: Armed suspect who was breaking into cars is in custody

Armed suspect in Round Rock burglaries taken into custody

The suspect was found at a Georgetown Hospital with a gunshot wound.

ROUND ROCK, Texas - What started as a series of car break-ins early Wednesday morning in Round Rock turned into an officer-involved shooting, then a search for an armed suspect. That suspect, 19-year-old Jack Whitaker III, is now in custody.

Around 5:00 AM Wednesday, police were called to the scene after several witnesses reported someone was breaking into multiple vehicles in the 1000 block of Christopher Avenue. They say he was turning dome lights on in those cars, but it’s unclear if anything was stolen.

Police arrived to find the Whitaker getting out of one of those cars.

19-year-old Jack Whitaker III is now in custody.

"While attempting to detain the suspect, the suspect pulled a handgun. One officer fired his duty weapon at the suspect at the time. The suspect fled the scene. Round Rock Police established a perimeter, attempting to locate the suspect. The suspect was located at a Georgetown hospital with a gunshot wound. The suspect is in custody at this time," said Round Rock Assistant Police Chief Willie Richards.

RRPD: Armed suspect who was breaking into cars in custody

The Round Rock Police Department is investigating this incident as an officer-involved shooting. John Krinjak has details.

Whitaker is now under arrest, with police putting him in handcuffs at the hospital. He underwent surgery Wednesday morning for what are described as non-life-threatening injuries. Police say he was shot in his lower body and his condition is now stable.

Whitaker is being released from the hospital and will be booked into the Williamson County Jail for aggravated assault on a public servant with additional charges pending. He is currently on probation for burglary of a motor vehicle charges out of McLennan County.

Police are still trying to piece together how many cars he may have hit. "We’re still processing all the scene but we do know that we have witness accounts that he was breaking in multiple vehicles," said Richards. "Detectives are interviewing the suspect. The handgun the suspect pulled was located on scene. RRPD Is conducting an officer-involved shooting investigation. One officer fired his weapon, and per our policies has been placed under administrative leave."

Richards says there is body camera footage of the encounter between the suspect and the officer. That will be part of the investigation, which now involves the District Attorney’s Office and the FBI.

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