City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: APD Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 23-2010204
Date: July 20, 2023
Time: 4:54 a.m.
Location: 3600 block of Menchaca Road
Deceased: James Woodrome, White male, 6/28/1963
The Austin Police Department (APD) continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, July 20, 2023. At approximately 4:54 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 Communications received a call describing a female banging on an apartment door stating a man was chasing her in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road and requesting police. The caller described a white female wearing blue jean shorts and a turquoise top. The caller said the female was sitting outside his door.
At 4:55 a.m., APD officers were dispatched to the call location, and at approximately 5:00 a.m., they arrived on the scene and began speaking with the female who matched the description in the 9-1-1 call. The female said a man was chasing her through the apartment complex, and he had a knife. The female described the male subject as a six foot three inches tall, 60-year-old man with gray hair who was last seen wearing navy blue or black basketball shorts with a dark shirt.
At approximately 5:03 a.m., officers communicated over the police radio the man was last observed running west through the apartment complex. The man was later identified as Mr. Woodrome.
At approximately 5:06 a.m., Mr. Woodrome approached the officers in the parking lot of the apartment complex while they were speaking to the female. The male subject walked toward the officer while holding a knife in his hands. Officers began to give commands to Mr. Woodrome to drop the knife.
Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by continuously giving commands to Mr. Woodrome. He did not comply with the commands and repeatedly yelled at the officers to shoot and kill him. One officer deployed a Department issued taser, but the taser deployment was ineffective. Mr. Woodrome moved forward in the direction of the officers. Officers continued commands to drop the knife and walk backward, creating more distance between them and Mr. Woodrome. Officers also requested the female stay back. Another officer deployed a Department issued taser a second time, and it did not affect Mr. Woodrome. Mr. Woodrome continued to walk toward them with the knife in his hand. One officer then discharged his Department approved firearm toward Mr. Woodrome, at which point he fell to the ground.
A knife was located on the ground next to Mr. Woodrome. Officers moved the knife away from Mr. Woodrome.
Once the scene was made safe by removing the knife, the officers immediately performed life-saving measures and requested medical assistance at the scene. Mr. Woodrome succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene at 5:19 a.m. No other civilians or officers sustained physical injuries.
This incident was captured on three officers' body-worn cameras. Per APD policy, the video will be released within ten business days. The APD officer that discharged the Department approved firearm has three years and five months of service with the Department. One of the officers who deployed a Department issued taser has 13 years and three months of service, and the other officer that deployed a department-issued taser has eight months of service with the Austin Police Department. Per APD protocol, all three officers have been placed on administrative leave.
APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident: a criminal investigation conducted by the APD Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney's Office and an administrative investigation conducted by the APD Internal Affairs Unit, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call APD’s Special Investigation Unit at (512) 974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. For the Capitol Area Crime Stoppers submission, you may submit a tip online at austincrimestoppers.org. You may remain anonymous.