Austin Police Fatally Shoot Armed Man Making Molotov Cocktail Inside Gas Station
Police said the suspect shot at officers and started pouring lighter fluid into a container with a rag to create a Molotov cocktail.

K-9 handler and dog enter a gas station on May 21 to confront the suspect. The officer withdrew with the dog after spotting the suspect's gun.
Screen Shot from Austin PD Video
On Wednesday, Austin police released bodycam video of a deadly shooting during a SWAT standoff in May.
Alfonso Gonzales, 35, died after being shot by police during the standoff at a gas station in southeast Austin on May 21, KVUE reports.
Police said Gonzales was driving a stolen car when he walked into the Texaco with a gun, refusing to leave or drop his weapon, which led to SWAT being called out.
Police said Gonzales ignored officers despite knowing there was an employee trapped inside. Officers attempted to use pepper spray projectiles to lure Gonzales out, but he remained inside the gas station. Later, police said Gonzales shot at officers and started pouring lighter fluid into a container with a rag to create a Molotov cocktail.
According to police, officers realized if Gonzales used the Molotov cocktail that it could kill or injure the employee trapped inside the store. That's when an officer shot Gonzales with an approved firearm. Gonzales was taken to the hospital where he later died.
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