Timeline and footage released in downtown Austin shooting
Austin police on Monday released redacted body-worn camera video and audio of a July 11 shooting that left 29-year-old Emmanuel Diaz dead after officers say he pointed a handgun at bystanders and pursuing officers following a three-hour search that began with reports of a man threatening runners.
Police say the sequence began about 8:13 a.m. near West 5th Street and North Lamar Boulevard, when multiple 911 callers reported an individual on an electric scooter chasing and threatening people exercising along the route. Witnesses told investigators a confrontation escalated after a runner asked the man to slow down; court and police records say the subject used slurs and struck a woman before drawing a handgun and threatening to shoot.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:13 a.m. | Initial 911 reports of threats to runners |
| 10:23 a.m. | Scooter believed to belong to suspect located on West Cesar Chavez Street |
| 11:07–11:08 a.m. | Officers locate suspect near the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail; shooting occurs |
Officers Adam Collins and William Johns — each with more than 14 years on the force — encountered Diaz near the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Authorities say he mounted the scooter, fled on foot when ordered to stop, dropped the scooter again and continued running while armed. Officers repeatedly ordered him to surrender the weapon, then fired when he fell and pointed the handgun in their direction, according to police statements.
Police say officers "repeatedly ordered him to drop it" before they fired.
Diaz was struck by gunfire at about 11:08 a.m.. Officers provided aid, but he died at the scene. No officers or members of the public were injured in the exchange. The department released the footage after redaction and placed both officers on administrative leave while the incident is reviewed.
Investigations and local stakes
The shooting is the subject of a criminal investigation by Austin police in coordination with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. Separately, the Austin Police Department is conducting an administrative probe with outside oversight. Those parallel reviews are standard when officers use deadly force, but they also draw scrutiny from community groups and officials concerned with departmental accountability.
- Transparency: The release of body-worn camera recordings is intended to provide a public account of events but may prompt calls for additional evidence and independent review.
- Legal review: The district attorney’s office will determine whether the officers’ actions meet the legal standard for use of force.
- Community response: The case involves a public area heavily used by joggers and cyclists, raising concerns about safety along the Hike-and-Bike Trail and other central Austin corridors.
City officials have not announced further administrative actions beyond the leave status of the two officers. The department’s release of footage followed a multi-hour search after the initial 911 calls, reflecting a sizable police response during a busy weekend morning in central Austin.
As investigators complete evidence review and interviews, the district attorney’s findings will determine whether criminal charges are warranted. The outcome will shape local discussions on police practices, use-of-force policy and public safety on heavily trafficked trails and sidewalks downtown.
Anyone with information about the incident may be contacted through the Austin Police Department’s public information channels as the probe proceeds.
