Austin Police Shoot Man Defending His Home From Home Invasion Or Who Cares They Shot Killed Anyway

* (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) *
Austin, Texas — On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at approximately 12:28 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 Communications received a call regarding a man with a gun across the street from 2301 South 3rd Street in the area of 2nd Street and Fletcher Street. The caller stated a male, wearing a grey robe and dark pants was pointing a rifle down the street. At 12:30 a.m., APD officers were dispatched to the call. The caller remained on the phone line with Austin 9-1-1 Communications while officers responded to the scene. The caller said the man was pointing his rifle at the interior of his home. The caller then stated the man just fired into his own home. The caller said the police were on scene and the man fired again. The man who fired the rifle was later identified as 33-year-old Rajan David Moonesinghe. The address where Moonesinghe was located was later identified as 2216 South 3rd Street.

Officer Daniel Sanchez and Officer Stephen Markert, driving separate marked police vehicles arrived at approximately 12:33 a.m., three minutes after the initial call was dispatched. As Officer Markert pulled up to the residence, he heard gunshots and realized that he was directly in front of where Moonesinghe was located. Both Officer Sanchez and Officer Markert then drove past the residence. Officers Sanchez and Markert exited their vehicles. Officer Sanchez was the first to observe Moonesinghe and gave him a verbal command to drop the gun. Immediately after telling Moonesinghe to drop the gun, Officer Sanchez fired his Department approved firearm at Moonesinghe. Moonesinghe was struck and fell to the ground. Officer Markert who had just exited his vehicle made contact with Officer Sanchez. Officer Markert gave verbal commands to Moonesinghe to show his hands. The officers did not receive a response from Moonesinghe.

Both officers observed the rifle on the ground near Moonesinghe. Officer Brito then arrived on scene and all three officers approached Moonesinghe who was still located on the porch of the residence with the rifle nearby. The officers immediately began life-saving measures. The front door was open and officers could see into the residence. Officer Brito gave verbal commands from the open front door to check for anyone who may have been injured or inside of the residence. Officers checked the residence and did not locate anyone inside the residence. At approximately 12:37 a.m., Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) arrived on scene and continued life-saving measures. ATCEMS transported Moonesinghe to a local hospital where Moonesinghe succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Civilians and officers on scene did not sustain physical injuries. The rifle observed on the ground near Moonesinghe and several spent shell casings were recovered and seized as evidence.