Off-Duty TX Detective Saved Lives by Shooting Road Rage Suspect, Police Say

An off-duty Austin Police detective reportedly saved lives Thursday night when he shot a man who was reportedly shooting at a family in a road-rage incident.

The Burnet County (TX) Sheriff’s Office said the Austin Police Department officer – identified by APD Interim Chief Brian Manley Friday morning as a 19-year detective of the department – called 911 around 10:15 p.m. Nov. 30 to report he came upon a road rage incident while on the way home. The suspect, described by Manley as a 55-year-old white man, was firing on a vehicle with a family of three inside around eight miles east of Marble Falls.

The off-duty detective exited his vehicle and shot the suspect twice. The suspect was flown to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin, and both the sheriff’s office and APD said his injuries are not considered to be life threatening.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect rammed the family’s SUV and forced them off the road. No one in the family was injured, Burnet County Sheriff's Office said.

Chief Manley told KVUE TV , "Our detective saved lives last night based on the actions he took. Had he not been on that stretch of roadway at that time, there’s really no telling what would’ve happened, because the act of aggression he came across may have resulted in loss of life.”