The 911 name positioned from {the teenager}’s cellphone final week reported a younger one that could also be brandishing a gun in an Austin, Texas, parking zone.
When officers arrived at a neighborhood park early Friday morning, they discovered 17-year-old Anthoneil Williams II, who immediately appeared to elevate his shirt and attain towards his waistband as officers instructed him to maintain his palms up, physique digicam footage launched by police exhibits.
Williams then raised each palms and prolonged them, with “his hands positioned together in front of him as if he was pointing a weapon at the officers,” police stated in a statement Wednesday, citing a evaluation of footage of the capturing.
Three officers fired a number of rounds as Williams, who’s Black, fell to the bottom at a playground, video exhibits. First responders tried to save lots of his life, however the teenager died on the scene, the Austin Police Department stated in a statement.
Williams was unarmed, with a water bottle in his waistband, police later decided.
“All points are indicating that this was a suicide by police,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated at a information convention Friday, noting this stays an energetic investigation. The preliminary 911 name was constructed from Williams’ cellphone, they added.
The teen’s death has fueled outrage from metropolis officers and neighborhood members who’re calling for better police accountability and has reignited a dialog about what psychological well being help will be offered earlier than lethal power is used. The three officers who opened fireplace have been positioned on administrative go away, per protocol, and the capturing is underneath investigation, police stated.
Police have stated the 911 caller was requested whether or not psychological well being providers have been wanted and had requested a police response.
“At no point during the call was this identified as a mental health crisis, and the caller disconnected before additional information could be obtained despite callback attempts,” Austin Police stated in a assertion to NCS affiliate KEYE.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis critiques physique digicam footage on July 24, 2026, of a deadly police capturing she described as a potential “suicide by cop.” – Sara Diggins/The Austin American-Statesman/Getty Images
911 name got here from teen’s cellphone, police say
The police division final week launched audio of the 911 name, which begins with the dispatcher asking, “Do you need police, fire, EMS or mental health services?”
“Police,” the caller responds.
“I’m looking out my window. There seems to be a kid. It looks like he has a gun … He keeps on messing with his waistband and I seen something in his hands,” the caller reported, in accordance with the audio. “It looks like a firearm but I’m not sure.”
The particular person was “brandishing” a firearm however was by himself, the caller stated, answering questions from dispatch.
Officers who responded situated Williams and “attempted to gain compliance by giving verbal commands to keep his hands up and asking him if he was okay,” Davis stated.
“Officers are often required to make life or death decisions in seconds,” the police chief added. “This was a rapidly evolving incident.”
Flowers, candles and tributes to Williams poured into the playground on the neighborhood park the place he was killed. As the neighborhood mourns {the teenager}, his death has additionally fueled calls for higher entry to psychological well being sources for younger individuals.
Since the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, some cities nationwide have heeded calls to reallocate cash away from legislation enforcement and into psychological well being and social providers. Others have shifted the accountability of responding to non-violent psychological well being disaster calls to skilled civilian packages fairly than police, comparable to Los Angeles and Baltimore.
“This tragedy is a reminder that access to timely mental health and behavioral health care and support can make a meaningful difference for individuals and families facing a crisis,” Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison stated in a statement.
Austin police are conducting a legal investigation with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, in addition to an administrative investigation by their inside affairs unit, police stated in a information launch.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office instructed NCS it should conduct an impartial evaluation of the capturing after the police division concludes its investigation and turns over proof.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Anthoneil Williams II. We are committed to ensuring a thorough review,” the workplace stated.
NCS has reached out to the Austin Police Department and Austin mayor’s workplace for extra remark.
Community outraged over capturing
Over the previous few days, a vigil was held to grieve {the teenager} earlier than he was recognized and protesters marched within the metropolis’s downtown to face in solidarity with Williams’ household and name for accountability.
Some marched to the workplace of Travis County District Attorney José P. Garza to demand he carry prices in opposition to the officers concerned within the capturing.
“People are angry,” an attendee who solely recognized himself as David T. stated on the vigil Saturday, in accordance with NCS affiliate KVUE. “People understand there needs to be something done.”
Williams’ associates described {the teenager} as selfless and a good good friend on the vigil over the weekend, in accordance with KVUE.
“It breaks my heart. I’m speechless. Everybody’s broken. It’s like they took a part of me with them when they took him,” stated Ameer Alogaili, who described being associates with Williams since they have been 11 years previous.
Another good friend, Santiago Aguirre, stated on the vigil Williams all the time prioritized others it doesn’t matter what he was going by, in accordance with KVUE.
“With him, it didn’t matter how he was feeling. He always put people first,” Aguirre stated.
Some Austin City Council members have launched statements on social media calling for a clear investigation.
“As we debate next year’s budget and ask the public to trust our public safety institutions, that trust will be earned through transparency and accountability,” stated Councilman Zo Qadri in a social media post.
The Austin Justice Coalition, a local people group, decried Williams’ killing and referred to as for accountability.
“Every loss of life is heartbreaking. Every family deserves answers,” Austin City Council member José Velásquez stated in a statement Saturday. “And our community deserves to know that every possible effort was made to respond with compassion, care, and de-escalation during a mental health crisis.”
Neighbors who stay close to the positioning described being unsettled by the police capturing happening of their neighborhood park the place youngsters play.
“The footage was disturbing because it hit home,” Jeffrey Metzger instructed KVUE. “It was right on the jungle gym where my grandchildren play, and we swim in the pool, and I know we’ll be thinking of that.”
Amairelys Flores, who lives throughout the road from the place Williams was killed, stated she heard a number of rounds of gunfire early Friday morning, in accordance with KEYE.
Police, she instructed KEYE, ought to affirm there may be an energetic menace earlier than utilizing lethal power. “Four a.m., you see a boy right there and what are you gonna do?” Flores stated. “Probably, that boy needs help.”
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