The fatal shooting of an elite SWAT police officer was captured on the body-worn camera of several officers who responded to a fatal hostage situation early Saturday morning, Austin police announced.
Senior police officer Jorge Pastore quickly rose through the ranks of several of the department’s elite teams and is the first officer to be killed in the line of duty in 10 years.
“When I first met him, it was like I already knew him…he had good energy,” retired Austin Police Officer Association president Dennis Farris told .
“When he enters the room, he kind of fills it. “Austin has lost an exceptional police officer.”
During Pastore’s three years with the department, he was named to the SWAT Gold Team, meaning he was a backup when full-time SWAT members were unable to respond to an emergency.
Senior Patrolman Jorge Pastore was killed Saturday in Austin, Texas, while responding to a deadly hostage situation. Pastore leaves behind his wife and two stepchildren
Pictured: Officer Jorge Pastore and his wife Kim Balint Pastore
A candlelight vigil was held at City Hall in downtown Austin to honor Officer Jorge Pastore, who was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Nov. 11
Austin Police Department officers prepare to take part in a procession leaving Dell Seton Medical Center in downtown Austin after a police officer was shot early Saturday
Members of the Austin Fire Department bow as they prepare to ride in a procession carrying the collapsed office
He was also part of the CAST division – the team called out to take out active shooters – and the SRT or Riot team.
“We should never forget the sacrifice that Jorge made,” Farris added.
A second officer was injured in the shootout and two hostages also died.
The killer’s rampage began around 2:49 a.m. Saturday when a distressed woman “screaming for help” called 911 and said she had been stabbed, interim Police Chief Robin Henderson told media during a news conference.
Eight minutes later, the first officers arrived at the house where two victims were believed to be living and trapped with the crazy man. However, the female victim managed to escape.
Because two people were in immediate danger, Henderson said, officers responded and forced entry into the home around 3:01 a.m. only to be met with gunfire.
Officers retreated from the home and called the SWAT team, which arrived at 4:11 a.m
Austin police are investigating the crime scene after an Austin police officer died in a shooting in South Austin, Texas, on Saturday
Acting Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson tearfully spoke to the media Saturday about the shooting of an Austin Police Department officer
“When SWAT officers entered, the suspect immediately fired his weapon at the officers and the SWAT officers returned fire,” Austin’s top cop said.
Henderson held back tears, adding that two officers were shot in the shootout.
The gunman was killed after several SWAT members fired their weapons.
Pastore’s death comes at a time when the Austin Police Department is nearly understaffed with 400 officers and tensions with City Hall are high.
The Liberal current mayor and city council have refused to offer the police a contract that guarantees their services.
A vigil was held for Pastore on Sunday, with Mayor Kirk Watson noticeably absent.
My heart and the hearts of Austinites are broken this morning. This is a terrible moment for our city and those who protect us.
I pray for the family of our fallen officer, for our officer who was shot and operated on and his family.
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/be8QXJDBtx
— Mayor Kirk Watson (@KirkPWatson) November 11, 2023
Steve Adler, the mayor of Austin, Texas, apologized after he was accused of falling asleep during a memorial service for a police officer who died in a tragic motorcycle accident last month
Justin Berry, a senior officer with the Austin Police Department and a member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, posted the photo and claimed the mayor was asleep
The department is so understaffed that detectives are regularly pulled away from investigating cases to serve as patrol officers.
Most 911 calls, except those involving life or death, are routed to the non-emergency number 311 instead.
Former Mayor Steve Adler, who left office in January, actually cut police funding by a third.
Adler also fell asleep at a police officer’s funeral and later had to apologize.
“I hope that the people out there who believe there is something wrong with the APD will take a step back,” Farris said amid the grief from law enforcement.