Sister of woman killed by suspect in Austin officer-involved shooting speaks out

Victim's sister speaks out after Austin deadly shooting

The man who shot an Austin police officer and shot and killed a woman in Zilker Park last week is now facing an additional felony charge. The woman?s sister is relieved to hear that the man is now charged with the murder

AUSTIN, Texas - The man who shot an Austin police officer and shot and killed a woman in Zilker Park last week is now facing an additional felony charge. 

The woman’s sister is relieved to hear that the man is now charged with the murder.

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Austin officer-involved shooting: Suspect now facing first-degree murder charge

The suspect at the center of an officer-involved shooting near Zilker Park on Sept. 10 is now facing a first-degree murder charge.

Victim's sister speaks out

Local perspective:

Kay ‘KC’ Smith’s sister, Brianna Brown, said she doesn’t believe what happened was an accident, and she hopes Brandon Thompson never gets out of jail.

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Thompson shot Smith in the back of the head. Smith’s sister found out what happened shortly after.

"I wanted to rewind time. I did not just hear what I heard, that's not real," Brown said.

Brown said she drove from Lubbock to Austin, for what felt like forever, to get to the hospital.

"Then we saw her. She looked so broken. And then it hit me, it was real, and at that moment, I got angry," Brown said.

Brown said she was angry at Thompson.

Thompson was Smith’s boyfriend. They had been together on and off for about three years. They were living in a tent in Zilker Park. 

Brown didn’t know Thompson and she said frankly, she didn’t know much about Smith’s life recently either.

"Unfortunately, in life, we wound up going down separate paths when we grew up, and we weren't as close and life choices caused us to drift further and further apart," Brown said. "I wish I had dug into her life more. I wish I had pried more. I wish I'd been as nosy to her as she was to me. She wanted to know everything that happened in my life and because she knew I didn't approve of the men she was with or the people that she hung around, she stopped telling me about them."

Austin OIS suspect charged with murder

The suspect at the center of an officer-involved shooting near Zilker Park is now facing a murder charge.

Thompson had a criminal history. Many charges were either not filed, or a plea deal was given.

After this deadly shooting, Thompson was charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer and burglary of a residence. A week later, he was charged with the murder of Smith. 

FOX 7 unknowingly broke the news to Smith’s sister.

"Now that he has been charged with murder, what's your reaction?" FOX 7 Crime Watch reporter Meredith Aldis asked.

"That he has been charged with murder? I hadn't heard that yet," Brown said. "Thank God. We were really scared that they were going to try to make it manslaughter, accidental or some stupid crap and let him out early again. No, he should never be out. He had a criminal record that showed he should have left last time. Maybe if they'd kept him in, my sister would still be alive."

Body cam video released in Austin OIS

The Austin Police Department has released body cam video and audio from the officer-involved shooting on September 10.

Now, Brown reminisces on the fond memories she had with her sister.

"She was goofy, didn't care what other people thought of her. She was very free-spirited, adventurous," Brown said. "We did everything together, everything together. I mean, she was my shadow."

Brown shared a message she thought KC would want to spread: "Stop judging each other, learn to love one another, and find a way to help people who need it."

Thompson is in Travis County custody.