Austin SWAT cop is shot and killed while trying to rescue hostages from shooter who killed hostages: Leaves behind a wife and two stepsons
The fatal shooting of an elite SWAT officer was captured early Saturday morning on the body-worn cameras of several officers responding to a deadly hostage situation, Austin police revealed.
Senior police officer Jorge Pastore quickly rose through the ranks to several elite teams in the department and is the first officer killed on the raid line of duty in 10 years.
“The first time I met him, it was like I already knew him… he had good energy,” Dennis Farris, president of the Retired Austin Police Officer Association, told DailyMail.com.
“When he comes into the room, he kind of fills the room. Austin has lost an exceptional police officer.”
During Pastore’s three years with the department, he was part of the SWAT Gold team, which meant he was a backup when full-time SWAT members couldn’t respond to an emergency.
Senior Patrol Officer Jorge Pastore was killed Saturday in Austin, Texas, while responding to a deadly hostage situation. Pastore is survived by his wife and two stepchildren
Pictured is Officer Jorge Pastore and his wife Kim Balint Pastore
A candlelight vigil was held at City Hall in downtown Austin to honor Officer Jorge Pastore, who was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Nov. 11.
Austin Police Department officers prepare to ride in a procession leaving Dell Seton Medical Center in downtown Austin following the shooting of a police officer early Saturday
Members of the Austin Fire Department bow their heads as they prepare to ride in procession with the fallen office
He was also part of the CAST division – the team called in to take out active shooters – and the SRT, or riot team.
“We must never forget the sacrifice Jorge made,” Farris added.
A second officer was injured in the firefight and two hostages were also killed.
The killer’s rampage began around 2:49 a.m. Saturday when a panicked woman “screaming for help” called 911 to say she had been stabbed, interim Police Chief Robin Henderson told media at a news conference.
Eight minutes later, the first officers arrived at the house where two victims were believed to be living and trapped with the crazed man, but the female victim had managed to escape.
With two people in immediate danger, Henderson said the officers announced themselves and entered the home around 3:01 a.m. but were met with gunfire.
The officers left the house and called in SWAT, who arrived at 4:11 am
Austin police are investigating the crime scene after an Austin police officer was killed following a shooting in South Austin, Texas on Saturday
Interim Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson tearfully spoke to the media Saturday about the shooting of an Austin Police Department officer
“When SWAT officers entered, the suspect immediately fired his handgun at the officers and the SWAT officers returned fire,” Austin’s top cop said.
Holding back tears, Henderson added that two officers were shot during the gunfire.
The shooter was killed after several members of SWAT fired their weapons.
Pastore’s death comes at a time when the Austin Police Department is nearly understaffed by 400 officers and tensions with City Hall are high.
The current liberal mayor and city council have refused to offer the police a contract that guarantees their benefits.
A vigil was held for Pastore Sunday, with Mayor Kirk Watson noticeably absent.
Steve Adler, the mayor of Austin, Texas, apologized after he was accused of falling asleep during a memorial service for a police officer killed in a tragic motorcycle accident last month
Justin Berry, a senior officer with the Austin Police Department and member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, posted the photo and claimed the mayor was asleep.
The department is so short-staffed that detectives are regularly withdrawn from investigating cases to act as patrol officers.
Most 911 calls, except those deemed life-or-death, are instead routed to the non-emergency 311 line.
Previous Mayor Steve Adler — who left office in January — cut the police department’s funding by a third.
Adler also fell asleep during a police officer’s funeral, and he was later forced to apologize.
“I hope that the people who think there is something wrong with APD will step back,” Farris said as the law enforcement community mourned.