Case:  23-2951290

Date:  Sunday, October 22, 2023 

Time:  7:55 p.m. 

Location:  9000 block of Northgate Boulevard 

Deceased:  Cristobal Ordonez Flores, White male, 05/15/1966 

The Austin Police Department (APD) continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, October 22, 2023. APD’s Special Investigations Unit is requesting the community’s assistance with gathering photos or videos of the incident. Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident should contact APD's Special Investigations Unit at 512-974-6840.  

Anyone who may have photos or videos can upload the material by scanning the QR code included in this release, or click here. 

At 7:55 p.m., Austin 9-1-1 received a call that reported an intoxicated subject was threatening a woman with a gun in the 9000 block of Northgate Boulevard. 

At 7:57 p.m., the first APD unit was assigned to the call and began responding to the scene. While APD officers were responding, additional information was received that the subject was holding his wife in one hand and a gun in the other. 

At 8:02 p.m., the first APD officer arrived on scene and began to gather additional information, which included the location of the apartment involved and began to secure the scene. Officers were also notified that the woman at risk was not his wife and that the subject, later identified as Cristobal Ordonez Flores, was pointing the gun at multiple neighbors. 

At 8:19 p.m., Austin 9-1-1 received a service call. A separate caller requested a check-welfare for a child that lives in an apartment in the 9000 block of Northgate Boulevard. The caller provided the same apartment number where the suspect was located. 

At 8:32 p.m., APD officers knocked on the door of the suspect’s apartment and identified themselves as police officers. 

At 8:33 p.m., Officers began making verbal “call-outs,” attempting to make contact with the suspect in both English and Spanish. 

At 8:34 p.m., the suspect was seen on the balcony area holding a gun. The officers began giving verbal commands to the suspect, but the suspect then pointed the gun at the officers. One officer deployed his Department-approved PepperBall system. Three officers fired their Department-approved firearms at the suspect. The suspect then retreated into the apartment out of view of the officers. Officers worked to secure the area and SWAT was requested. Before SWAT was able to arrive, officers had reason to believe that a woman and child were inside with the armed suspect and in danger. 

At 8:44 p.m., officers forced entry into the apartment to rescue the woman and child. As officers entered the apartment, the suspect fired his gun at the officers. The officers returned fire and shot the suspect. An officer gave verbal commands for the suspect to show him his hands in order to safely detain him, but the suspect did not comply. The suspect reached for the firearm, grabbed the gun, and pointed it at officers. The officers shot the suspect again, at which point the suspect dropped the gun. 

Once the scene was made safe and the suspect’s gun was secured, officers safely removed the woman and child from the apartment. Officers then immediately provided medical aid to the suspect prior to EMS’ arrival on scene. 

Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services (A/TCEMS) arrived on scene, and the suspect was pronounced deceased on scene. 

Three APD officers discharged their Department-approved firearm, one officer deployed their Department-approved PepperBall system(non-lethal), and one DPS trooper discharged his Department-approved firearm. No officers or other civilians sustained physical injuries. 

This incident was captured on multiple Officers' body-worn cameras. Per APD policy, APD video relating to this incident will be released within ten business days. Two of the three APD Officers that discharged their Department-approved firearm have 5 years and 8 months of service with the Department. The third Officer that discharged his Department-approved firearm has 3 years and 8 months of service with the Department. The fourth officer that deployed his Department-approved PepperBall system has 11 months of service with the Austin Police Department. Per APD protocol, all four 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 and the Texas Rangers 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 Investigations 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.