Deadly officer-involved shooting after alleged drunk driving crash in Round Rock

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Police Department is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting.

Round Rock Police Chief Allan Banks says on Jan. 7, around 9:40 p.m., the department received 9-1-1 calls about a single-vehicle crash that ended in a field near I-35 and Westinghouse.

When officers arrived at the scene, the male suspect got out of the vehicle and walked out into a wooded area. Officers did not make contact with the suspect and began to search for the suspect.

Due to the dark, officers used a drone and the drone located the suspect in a tree line. 

The suspect then began shooting at officers and the drone for several minutes. Officers did not return fire at that time because they could not clearly see the suspect in the tree line.

Additional resources, including SWAT teams, were called from surrounding areas.

SWAT was eventually able to approach the tree line and there was a confrontation between officers and the suspect. An officer did shoot at the suspect.

Officials say it's not known at this time if the suspect was hit by the officer or if it was self-inflicted.

Based on the initial 9-1-1 call, officials say the caller believed the suspect was intoxicated before driving the vehicle.

Drone flight instructor Gene Robinson says drones are a huge help to law enforcement, especially in the dark. 

"We have always considered drones a force multiplier, and it gives them the ability to get that bird's eye view very quickly," he said. "It saved probably a considerable amount of hours and time."

He says how a suspect interacts with the drone can also help officers gauge the risk level. 

"That gives the officer a very good idea of what that individual's intent is and that they are capable of using the arms that they have on them at the time," he said.

Christian Salazar lives on Westinghouse Road and described what he saw.

"I saw this car just car flying by me, and then there were a few other police cars," he said. "It is definitely concerning, you know, just on the parents' side to see drivers like that on the road."

While it's not clear if it was the same suspect vehicle, he's glad officers handled the situation the way they did.

"It's unfortunate for sure that something like this had to happen," Salazar said. "Thankfully, we have a great police department in the city."

The Texas Rangers and Round Rock PD are investigating.

No officers were hurt.