Vigil held in Austin after 1 officer killed, another injured in hostage situation
AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) - A community in Austin is shaken after the fatal shooting of a police officer and two others were killed in a hostage standoff Saturday.
Police officers responded to the home early Saturday morning. The hostage taker shot at officers, but they weren't hit.
An hour later, two SWAT officers were shot. One was killed.
SWAT officers returned fire and killed the hostage taker. Police say they also found two more victims dead inside the home.
Those who live near the home say they were surprised by all of this because their neighborhood is usually quiet and peaceful.
"I heard a lot of police sirens going off, and I thought that was very strange, especially for the time of night," said Jose Castillo.
"I got up to look around the house, and I saw the cops everywhere," Gaston Jones said.
The officer killed in the shooting was identified by Austin's Interim Chief of Police as Officer Jorge Pastore. He joined the department in 2019.
My heart is heavy today. Please help me and our APD family pay tribute to SPO Jorge Pastore for his brave & heroic actions. Sir, we’ll take it from here.
— Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson (@Chief_Henderson) November 11, 2023
Thanks for all the prayers & thoughts. Continue to keep the Pastore family and our second Officer injured in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/237uLZixS4
Sunday night, hundreds of people, including law enforcement, gathered at Austin City Hall to remember Pastore's life.
"Officers like Jorge make it possible for us to live just a phone call away from help," said Cleo Petricek, from Save Austin Now. "Jorge and his family have given more than we could ever repay."
There was a "Get Well Soon" card for people to sign for the officer in the hospital recovering from his injuries.