Featured
austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
Most viewed
Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
Armed protesters guard the memorial of Garrett Foster, who was shot and killed during a protest against police brutality in Austin on July 25, 2020.
By Jordan Vonderhaar
Throughout the summer, cities in Texas and around the country have seen protests and demonstrations against police brutality. On Saturday, protesters and law enforcement clashed in Austin, a week after protester Garrett Foster, who was openly carrying an AK-47 rifle — which is legal in Texas — was shot and killed by Daniel Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant, when he approached his car. Perry drove away, then called the police. Perry was released without being charged. Since then, questions have been raised about who was the aggressor.
<p data-children-count="0">Foster's death fueled tensions Saturday night in the downtown streets of the state capital as demonstrators again gathered and local and state police turned out in massive force. Tribune photographer Jordan Vonderhaar was there to document the protest. Here's what he saw.</p><p data-children-count="0"><br/></p>
<p class=""><br/></p>
State police in riot gear form a line along Congress Avenue and advance toward protesters to remove them from the street.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQyMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDEzMTYxMn0.d86Zhoac6e1loRulivXsiZRCJ5Ysm6K1OToYC_SWOy8/img.png?width=980" id="82f94" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="63ad8adf22f1a2a32bde1c6e8c532db7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Jordan Vonderhaar
Armed protesters ride in the back of a pickup truck from a rally at the University of Texas to a memorial for Garrett Foster in downtown Austin, minutes after hearing of clashes between other protesters and police.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQyNC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODIyMjM1NX0.Ao_4mTkOPw2syjKbKcQJSX-O44dFCRJDbbJgBMFW6dw/img.png?width=980" id="24906" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="267e200551ef2a141d6b5e9bd15ba829" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
A man with a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder stands among protesters who have gathered at the Garrett Foster memorial in downtown Austin.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQyNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzcxOTkzMn0._GAt1E-AidcOYzOR9_kGbBL7DrvDvCMjfYMb0f0WH-g/img.png?width=980" id="824e1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="719f945f43055599a57dacc9de8544f0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
A protester confronts police in riot gear.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQyNi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwODcxOTUwMH0.OyE5LkJbim9Q8U1iOfd0DDASgIPXcCtuK1b-JjZUO_g/img.png?width=980" id="bd7a7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1631c952a901a274eabfa54e35d52d4f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
Mounted officers from the Austin Police Department clash with protesters on the corner of Fourth Street and Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQyNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDc2NzMzMX0.5oNfDZ3YkyoOQY_A8d1YZ84g26bZnHfhwyjdKlCbePI/img.png?width=980" id="87444" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5d0ff1e47c454529947cbe4c71c0af21" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
Mounted officers from the Austin Police Department clash with protesters on the corner of Fourth Street and Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQyOC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzAyNzk4Nn0.cyEJ5DmzyaztsRnV9fqhaenYnQ7cs514KUZCYV3TkQg/img.png?width=980" id="8e069" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="163047eb1ea7762ba8ed4efb115d291f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
State police were present large numbers.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ4Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQwNTUwOX0.s1h3VhX-ZEoitvy3qvkZlyEaYRLrHNHVe2BQvaMSKSM/img.png?width=980" id="c93b3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="534a7361ca0a2956a9e5b05679f6d7b7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ4OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNzI2OTk0MH0.U1qk1mKskBNfoa4k35LzbIj1zBXi-ixSo-VBJbYw7ig/img.png?width=980" id="7bd64" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2b77c0e8e6c14f7b0e6d245d8ed5d0e0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Jordan Vonderhaar
A protester armed with a baseball bat kneels in the street with fist upraised as protesters clashed with police in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ5MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMjI2NjQ0N30.kFHZTlq4mDkfrojMmPr1xplOlaTBNWa5lnCHBwL-qGA/img.png?width=980" id="e49af" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f01dc35d33515df682261c675cf6557f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
Members of the far-right Proud Boys militia stand on Congress Avenue across from the Garrett Foster memorial in downtown Austin.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ5Mi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTMxNzA3Mn0.J1V0eqSXZrKQ1H5HOJkJiTYXc0FSi2sNBj0pixxi77s/img.png?width=980" id="7ad19" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a87090215d4bface5de31b64aee3ed53" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
A woman with her hands zip-tied waits to be loaded onto a bus after being arrested during protests against police brutality in downtown Austin.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ5My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODkwNzQ1NX0.pgAlN0FxLyz7j-3GoGOydiZvN7qHbMEl4OGjQ61Fv5o/img.png?width=980" id="88094" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6e7885cb303bd9fbbaf42b5dbf6faa68" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
Police load arrested protesters into a Travis County Sheriff Department bus.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ5NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMDU1MDM2N30.kPIhv7ql-g4udho-dUkBsL3hRCTiVw68W9VjaN7lM7Y/img.png?width=980" id="4b83b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c31093d1dcd50afded51595193080595" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
A police officer sprays a protester with pepper spray as demonstrators clash with police in downtown Austin
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ5OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzU5MzI2NX0.bAbIMFbFlBCxqy3RLK07q7j5bYjH403lxd6ATgzD-zc/img.png?width=980" id="da3a9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="86830ba7dbdd9ef95a4c6e89833f89ef" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Jordan Vonderhaar
A heavy police presence marked Saturday's protest in downtown Austin.
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUyOTQ5OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTUxODMwMn0.O473UBVJdDTq5QYJGR3pKhJ8LbVYB8TdO3rZ4qO7-g0/img.png?width=980" id="628a9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5f3153935cd4709ccaa8af74403665ec" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />From Your Site Articles
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
- Joe Rogan says he's moving to Texas 'soon' - austonia ›
- Austin protestor Garrett Foster killed by driver - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
- Video footage from Austin protest shows Garrett Foster in interview ... ›
- Austin shooting: Mother of victim killed at protest says Garrett Foster ... ›
- Soldier who shot Austin protester Garrett Foster reveals identity ... ›
- Garrett Foster Brought His Gun to Austin Protests. Then He Was ... ›
- Daniel Perry confirmed to have shot Austin protester Garrett Foster ... ›
Keep Reading
Show less
(Marshall Tridick/Texas Tribune)
People gathered for a vigil in honor of Garrett Foster in Austin this week.
By Meena Venkataramanan, The Texas Tribune
Austin police are investigating the fatal shooting of an armed 28-year-old man who was killed during an encounter with an armed motorist while protesting against police brutality. But whether the unnamed driver faces criminal charges in Garrett Foster's death could hinge on which man police, prosecutors or a grand jury believes first provoked the other.
<p>Foster was visibly carrying an AK-47 rifle — which is legal in Texas — as he pushed his fiancée in her wheelchair across an intersection in downtown Austin during Saturday's protest, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/us/austin-shooting-texas-protests.html" target="_blank">according to The New York Times</a>.</p><p>A motorist was attempting to turn his vehicle onto Congress Avenue and honked at protesters, who were in the crosswalk, according to <a href="https://abc7.com/austin-shooting-downtown-protest-murder/6335183/" target="_blank">a video of the incident</a> filmed by independent journalist Hiram Gilberto. Michael Capochiano, a demonstrator at the scene, told The Texas Tribune that protesters including Foster surrounded the car after it hit a traffic cone and the driver stopped.</p><p>"What [the driver] did was he intentionally, aggressively accelerated into a crowd of people. ... He threw his turn into a bunch of people and almost ran a bunch of people over," said James Sasinowski, another protester who was at the scene.</p><p>There are conflicting accounts about whether Foster raised his gun at the motorist, who was also legally armed. Police said the driver shot at Foster, fled the scene, called 911 and told police he opened fire because Foster pointed his rifle at the car first.</p><p>Texas' so-called "stand-your-ground" law allows people to use deadly force against someone else if they feel they are in danger. Conversely, it prohibits an individual from arguing self-defense if they provoked a threat from someone else, said Sam Bassett, an attorney and the president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.</p><p>Detectives need to consider whether Foster could have perceived the motorist's actions as a threat, Bassett told The Texas Tribune.</p><p>"I would consider them to not be doing a good investigation if they did not consider that," he said. "I do think the self-defense claim could be negated if, for instance, if the driver was there to provoke a reaction or to argue or attempt to harm the pedestrians," he added.</p><p>Sasinowski said he could not see if Foster pointed his gun toward the car. Capochiano, though, does not think Foster did. "My recollection was that [Foster] had the gun in his hands, with the muzzle pointing toward the ground and not pointing to the side, not even pointing toward the car," Capochiano said.</p><p>Both witnesses interviewed by The Texas Tribune said they believed the driver's behavior to be threatening and intentional.</p><p>"He incited the violence, it was intentional, he knew what he was doing," Sasinowski said. "He was driving into a crowd of protesters. No way that that was just like a traffic thing. There's 100 people in front of you, you don't drive into them."</p><p>Austin police said earlier this year that a police officer's killing of an unarmed Black and Latino man was justified because his attempt at driving away from police who had just shot him with a lead pellet-filled bag constituted using the car as a deadly weapon against law enforcement.</p><p><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/27/mike-ramos-austin-video/" target="_blank">The death of Mike Ramos</a>, the driver in that April case, along with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, prompted weeks of anti-police brutality protests in Austin and across the state. In early June, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/05/austin-protests-police-brutality-brian-manley-george-floyd/" target="_blank">four City Council members said they had lost faith</a> in Austin Police Chief Brian Manley after his handling of those protests. At least one member called on him to resign.</p><p>In a video about Foster's death, Manley said Sunday that he was grateful to the officers who responded to the driver's 911 call.</p><p>"Regardless of the topic of the protest — whether the protest is geared at these officers, whether they were earlier in the evening taking insults from these protesters — these officers put all of that aside, as they do every single day, and ran toward the danger and helped this individual but were unfortunately unable to save his life," Manley said.</p><p>Natasha Harper-Madison, an Austin City Council member, <a href="https://twitter.com/gusbova/status/1287953553026355207?s=21" target="_blank">wrote in a Facebook post</a> Monday that she was in "utter disbelief" while listening to Manley's comments, which she called "tone-deaf."</p><p>"There's no protest that's against the Austin Police Department, the protest is against the culture of police departments across the country," Harper-Madison told The Texas Tribune.</p><p>She said it is "absolutely possible" that the police department is biased against Foster in its investigation because he was an anti-police brutality protester.</p><p>Austin police spokesperson Tara Long told The Texas Tribune that "the ongoing investigation into Mr. Foster's death is being conducted with the same amount of commitment as other deaths."</p><p>"To say otherwise is a disservice to his family," Long said.</p><p>Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday shared a video clip Sunday of Foster explaining why he brought his gun to protests, which included explicit language about "all the people that hate us" and are too cowardly to "stop and actually do anything about it."</p><p>"This is the guy that lost his life last night. He was looking for confrontation and he found it," Casaday wrote in his tweet of the video, which has since been deleted.</p><p>Casaday also <a href="https://www.fox7austin.com/news/fatal-shooting-at-austin-protest-could-take-months-to-get-final-review-by-prosecutors" target="_blank">told FOX 7 News on Monday</a> that Foster was already on the police department's radar because he brought firearms to protests. "Garrett Foster was on the radar because he would commonly come to the rallies with the AK-47. Our individuals who were responsible to monitor people with firearms, he was on the radar already," he said. Texas is an open-carry state.</p><p>That notion drew ire from Chas Moore, the founder and executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition.</p><p>"The fact that the only reason that Foster was was on their lists or whatever because he was carrying a gun doesn't make any sense because we live in Texas and he wasn't violating any laws or anything like that, and he wasn't ever really physically aggressive towards any police officers or anybody, to my knowledge," Moore said.</p><p>On Wednesday, Casaday said via Twitter that he was sorry for his initial tweet about Foster looking for a confrontation and asked the man's family to accept his apology.</p><p>"I apologize for my offensive choice of words," he <a href="https://twitter.com/KennethCasaday/status/1288506200720650244" target="_blank">tweeted</a>. "I should have known better. I have responded to dozens of shootings in my law enforcement career and they are all tragic."</p><p>Casaday could not be reached for comment this week. Long, the police spokesperson, said the department does not maintain a watchlist of protesters.</p><p>Moore said he remains concerned about the integrity of the department's investigation, and he questioned why police released the driver. "I think we all need to keep an eye on this case or this investigation as things come forward," he told The Texas Tribune.</p><p>Sheila Foster, Garrett Foster's mother, and Whitney Mitchell, his fiancée, could not be reached for comment this week.</p><p>Austin police continue to investigate the incident to develop "the most complete picture" before moving forward, according to a statement from the department's homicide unit.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>This <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/30/garrett-foster-austin-texas-stand-your-ground-self-defense/" target="_blank">story was originally published</a> in The Texas Tribune, a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.</em></p>
From Your Site Articles
- Austin protestor Garrett Foster killed by driver - austonia ›
- Garret Foster's death at an Austin protest Saturday night - austonia ›
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Travis County)
A former Austin wealth manager struck a deal on Tuesday with California prosecutors that will allow him to avoid felony convictions and jail time on sexual assault charges filed after a 2019 luxury golf trip in California with "two high-profile friends."
<p><a href="https://austonia.com/public-safety/austin-financial-advisor-pebble-beach-sexual-assault" target="_self">David Walter Osborne</a>, accused of attacking a woman last year at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, pleaded "no contest" to misdemeanor charges in exchange for a deal that included lifetime registration as a sex offender, five years probation, and a 364-day sentence he can serve in his Travis County home, according to the plea agreement described in a California court.</p><p>If he violates probation, he could be sentenced to up to two years in prison.</p><p>In exchange for those and other terms, to be formalized at a Sept. 13 sentencing hearing, Osborne pleaded "no contest" to the misdemeanor charges of sexual battery/unlawful restraint and false imprisonment.</p><p>Three felony charges—attempted forcible rape, assault with attempt to commit a felony, and sexual penetration by a foreign object—will be dropped at the formal sentencing before Monterey County Superior Court Judge Rafael Vazquez.</p><p>The plea deal means that neither of Osborne's golfing buddies, who flew with him on a private plane to Pebble Beach Resorts before the alleged attack, nor anyone else, including Osborne, will have to testify on the details of the allegations in open court.<br/> </p><p>The friends have never been identified by Monterey County authorities, who said they all shared rooms at the lodge during the trips, in a news release last year.</p><p>Osborne originally pleaded not guilty to all the charges.</p><p>He was in court on Tuesday but did not make a statement beyond answering "yes" and "no" to procedural questions by the judge. Defense attorney Lyn Agre of San Francisco did not make any arguments in court nor did she respond to requests for comment.</p><p>The victim will be allowed to give a remote video impact statement during the sentencing, prosecutors said.</p><p>Monterey County Assistant District Attorney Lana Nassoura said in court Tuesday that the victim, who does not live in California, had been monitoring the case both through the prosecutors' office and through remote access to hearings, and had agreed to the terms of the plea agreement.</p><p>She declined to discuss the case further after the hearing but implied during court that the victim was ready to testify against him if the case moved forward.</p><p>Nassoura also said the sentence "holds the defendant accountable for his actions" and "most importantly, guarantees solace to Jane Doe."</p><p>The terms of the deal also include the following:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Osborne may not appeal the ruling;</li><li>he may not own a firearm;</li><li>he must attend sex-offender psychological treatment twice a month for a year;</li><li>he waives client-doctor confidentiality at those treatment sessions;</li><li>he must adhere to a restraining order and not contact the victim for ten years;</li><li>he is subject to drug and alcohol testing and spontaneous search of his home, person or vehicle for five years;</li><li>and he cannot use alcohol for one year or controlled substance for five years.</li></ul>
From Your Site Articles
- Witnesses testify in Austin wealth manager's sex assault case ... ›
- David Osborne to face judge after Pebble Beach trip ended in ... ›
- Austin money manager's Pebble Beach sexual assault hearing ... ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
Garrett Foster, 28, was shot and killed during a protest against police violence on Saturday.
Garrett Foster, 28, was shot and killed by someone in a car on Saturday while attending a protest in downtown Austin. Earlier in the evening, he was interviewed on a livestream while wearing an AK-47 across his chest.
Here is what else we know about the incident so far.
<p><strong>What do we know about Garrett Foster?</strong><br/></p><p>Foster had attended the ongoing protests regularly with his fiancée Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple-amputee, with whom he purchased a home in Austin two years ago, his mother, Sheila, told <a href="https://abc7.com/austin-shooting-downtown-protest-murder/6335183/" target="_blank">Good Morning America</a>.</p><p>Mitchell's mother, Patricia Kirven, organized a GoFundMe to pay for Foster's funeral and burial costs. It raised <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-garrett-foster-memorial-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR249VfvN3hkP2aS358os8CCF0Ctd1Kl8DCTmKHGfor0TiqcG2e9DNUUTdU" target="_blank">more than $107,000</a>.</p><p>"He fought against injustice, served in the military and was fiercely protective of his fiancée," Kirven wrote on the fundraising page. "They fell in love at 17 and were never apart."</p><p>Foster left the military to take care of Mitchell when she became sick with an unknown illness, which led to her amputations, Kirven told <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2020/07/26/man-fatally-shot-at-protest-in-austin/" target="_blank">the Dallas Morning News</a>. Foster had served as her full-time caretaker for nearly a decade.</p><p><strong>Was he armed?</strong></p><p>Foster was carrying an AK-47 at the protest.</p><p>Earlier in the evening, he spoke about the weapon to an independent journalist named Hiram Gilberto Garcia, who has been broadcasting live footage from the Austin protests. "They don't let us march in the streets anymore, so I got to practice some of our rights," Foster said in the interview, which was <a href="https://www.pscp.tv/w/1YqJDpVaEPDJV" target="_blank">streamed on Periscope</a>.</p><p>Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday <a href="https://twitter.com/KennethCasaday/status/1287373267318300674" target="_blank">tweeted a link to Garcia's video interview with Foster</a> on Sunday. "This is the guy that lost his life last night," he wrote. "He was looking for confrontation and he found it."</p><p>Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said at a press conference on Sunday that the driver who shot and killed Foster told dispatchers that Foster approached his window and pointed a rifle at him.</p><p>But some witnesses dispute this account. James Sasinowski <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/28/us/austin-protest-shooting-witness/index.html" target="_blank">told CNN</a> that the driver aggressively drove into the crowd of protestors and incited the violence..<br/></p><p><strong>What is the status of the investigation?</strong></p><p>APD is actively investigating Foster's death, Manley said on Sunday, including reviewing available video, photos and witness statements. The Travis County Medical Examiner's office will conduct an autopsy.</p><p>Texas has a fairly broad <a href="https://www.kut.org/post/4-things-you-should-know-about-self-defense-law-texas" target="_blank">stand-your-ground law</a>, which doesn't require individuals to retreat when defending their home or other property.</p><p><strong>Who organized the protest? </strong></p><p>The Mike Ramos Brigade has organized regular protests against police violence and white supremacy in Austin.</p><p>In recent tweets, the brigade has referred to Foster as a <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_r_brigade/status/1287250590100262912" target="_blank">"comrade"</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_r_brigade/status/1287462038541946888" target="_blank">"one of our own."</a></p><p>The group's members have not identified themselves, but <a href="https://austonia.com/city/austin-antifa-looting/particle-1" target="_self">APD confirmed last month</a> that there is crossover between the brigade and another controversial local group called Defend Our Hoodz, which organized <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-may-day" target="_self">a rent strike and May Day protests</a> earlier this year.</p><p>Mike Ramos was shot and killed by Austin police in April. His mother, Brenda, <a href="https://austonia.com/city/austin-police-brutality-protest-sunday/particle-3" style="" target="_self">has said</a> her family is not associated with the Mike Ramos Brigade.</p><p><strong><span></span>What are local officials saying about Foster?</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Austin Mayor Steve Adler tweeted on Sunday, "This is horrible as is all gun violence. There are too many guns."</p><p>Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison criticized the police response to Foster's death, including a Sunday press conference in which Manley spoke about rising violent crime in Austin and staffing shortages.</p><p>Council is in the middle of <a href="https://austonia.com/city/hundreds-speak-out-on-cuts-to-police-budget-at-austin-city-council-hearing" target="_self"><u>budget deliberations</u></a> about whether to cut APD funding and staffing. Last week, hundreds of residents called into a meeting to urge council to cut more than the $11 million currently proposed.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="162229f270815aa753064800e15e8b9d" id="93c39"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1287845455922110464"><div style="margin:1em 0">My thoughts on the death of Garrett Foster and our police chief's Sunday evening press conference: https://t.co/eCINuRkWis</div> — Natasha Harper-Madison (@Natasha Harper-Madison)<a href="https://twitter.com/NatashaD1atx/statuses/1287845455922110464">1595881258.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"Whether we halve APD's budget or double it, nothing will bring back Garrett Foster," she wrote in a Facebook post on Monday, "and using a press conference about his death as a platform for political purposes is beneath contempt."</p>
From Your Site Articles
- Two days of protest: demonstrators shut down I-35, Austin police ... ›
- List of proposed changes to Austin Police Department after protests ... ›
- Austin activists see moment to strike on defunding APD - austonia ›
- Austin Police delay releasing videos from protests - austonia ›
- Key question in Garrett Foster’s death is self-defense - austonia ›
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
- Austin protesters clash with police after Garrett Foster's death - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Austonia staff)
Austin police on Monday released what the department calls a "critical incident video" of the April 2020 shooting death of Austin resident Michael Ramos, as ordered by the department's policies regarding police shootings and similar incidents.
<p>Officials warn that the content could be disturbing to some viewers. </p><p><a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/apd-critical-incidents/community-briefing-videos" target="_blank">Click here to view the video.</a></p><p>Ramos was shot by police, who were responding to a call, as he was driving away from officers. He was unarmed. </p><p>His death has prompted numerous protests and <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-council" target="_blank">calls for reform</a> at the Austin Police Department.</p><p><em>This story will be updated throughout the day.</em></p>
From Your Site Articles
- Two days of protest: demonstrators shut down I-35, Austin police ... ›
- Travis County DA won't take Ramos, Ambler cases to grand jury ... ›
- Austin Police Department overhaul draws public testimony - austonia ›
- Grand jury in Ramos case delayed by pandemic concerns - austonia ›
- City delays release of video in police killing of Mike Ramos, citing ... ›
- michael-ramos - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
- Austin delays release of Mike Ramos police footage, citing misstep ... ›
- Austin police identify man killed in officer-involved shooting in ... ›
- Why Protesters In Austin Are Chanting 'Justice for Mike Ramos' ›
- Man killed in police shooting last month did not have firearm, chief ... ›
- Austin Police Report Confirms Michael Ramos Was Fatally Shot ... ›
Keep Reading
Show less
(GoFundMe)
A peaceful Black Lives Matter rally turned violent Saturday night when a person drove up to a crowd of protesters on Congress Avenue before stopping, shooting a man and quickly driving off, according to news reports, Facebook Live video and police.
<p>The victim, identified by <a href="https://abc7.com/austin-shooting-downtown-protest-murder/6335183/" target="_blank">his family</a> and <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/downtown-austin-shooting-congress-sixth-street/269-9cd396c1-169c-45be-9529-c1e4662f838e" target="_blank">later</a> by police as 28-year-old Garrett Foster, died at Dell Seton Medical Center. No other injuries from the incident were reported, but police said that a second person in the crowd drew a weapon and fired at the car as it drove away. Both shooters were questioned by police,<a href="https://www.kut.org/post/austin-police-release-two-people-who-fired-handguns-deadly-incident-during-protest" target="_blank"> but both have since been released</a>.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9e0deba148fcb92fdcaf00222b9299e0" id="d4ab9"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1287521417861500928"><div style="margin:1em 0">Watch: @Chief_Manley provides media briefing in regards to Homicide #28
https://t.co/PSZRZAVwWz</div> — Austin Police Department (@Austin Police Department)<a href="https://twitter.com/Austin_Police/statuses/1287521417861500928">1595804001.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Much of the hours-long march was live-streamed on social media, including around the time the suspect shot Foster. Gunshots can be heard during this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImHiram/videos/295346775139805/?t=9328" target="_blank">Facebook Live video.</a><br/></p><p>The incident began around 9:50 p.m. when the suspect, driving down Fourth Street, honked at protesters before turning and speeding down Congress Avenue. The car came to an abrupt stop after appearing to hit an orange barrier. Several protesters then approached the car, including Foster, who may have been holding a rifle, police said. The driver of the car then pointed a gun out his window, fired several times and left the scene.</p><p>Foster had been attending the protest with his fiancé, a quadruple-amputee, and was pushing her wheelchair, according to <a href="https://abc7.com/austin-shooting-downtown-protest-murder/6335183/" target="_blank">Good Morning America</a>, which spoke to Foster's mother. </p><p>A protester who had seen Foster before said he often brought his rifle with him, <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20200725/austin-protest-shooting-victim-remembered-for-devotion-to-fianceacutee-racial-justice" target="_blank">the Austin American-Statesman reported</a>. His sister told the newspaper that she did not believe he would ever point a gun at someone.</p><p>Foster and his fiancé, Whitney Mitchell, had attended many protests peacefully over the past few months, according to his mother and other protesters. After initially dispersing following the shooting, Mitchell and several dozen other protesters reconvened by the Austin Police headquarters early Sunday morning. Mitchell was surrounded by protesters chanting Foster's name and sharing their condolences.</p><p>A GoFundMe page<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-garrett-foster-memorial-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR249VfvN3hkP2aS358os8CCF0Ctd1Kl8DCTmKHGfor0TiqcG2e9DNUUTdU" target="_blank"> has been set up</a> as a memorial to Foster.<br/></p><p><em>This story has been updated with new information.</em></p>
From Your Site Articles
- Austin homicides are up, but the numbers can be deceiving - austonia ›
- Key question in Garrett Foster’s death is self-defense - austonia ›
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
- Man who shot Garrett Foster reveals identity - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Charlie L. Harper III/Austonia)
A marathon hearing on the next Austin budget, held virtually on Thursday, included testimony from hundreds of residents voicing concern that only $11 million was cut from the Austin Police Department's $400 million allocation, KUT reports.
<p>The number was far short of the<a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-council" target="_blank"> $100 million in cuts requested</a> in the wake of <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-city-council-protest" target="_blank">protests against police violence</a>.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d636cd9d3e8d7dabd8ac6c5d729ee292" id="79116"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1286523392955424768"><div style="margin:1em 0">200 out of the 286 speakers that we managed to note asked for the minimum $100 million APD budget cut proposed by… https://t.co/zRThGY5tjL</div> — ATXJusticeCoalition (@ATXJusticeCoalition)<a href="https://twitter.com/AtxJustice/statuses/1286523392955424768">1595566053.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The Austin Police Association and others are pushing back, saying that the department needs funding in order to continue to enforce the law.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bca24451f7d20704318775fac8f15220" id="8e79b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1286350868565164037"><div style="margin:1em 0">As #atxcouncil discusses what @Austin_Police services to pass to other agencies or whether or how the budget should… https://t.co/dqtHMEkEcX</div> — Austin Police Association (@Austin Police Association)<a href="https://twitter.com/ATXPOA/statuses/1286350868565164037">1595524920.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p>
From Your Site Articles
- Voting on the funding of the Austin police department - austonia ›
- List of proposed changes to Austin Police Department after protests ... ›
- Sweeping changes to budget, policy for Austin police - austonia ›
- Austin Police Department overhaul draws public testimony - austonia ›
- Austin activists see moment to strike on defunding APD - austonia ›
- List of proposed changes to Austin Police Department after protests ... ›
- Austin police to discuss changes with city council committee - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Monterey County)
A former Austin wealth manager facing felony sexual assault charges after a luxury golf trip in California with "two high-profile friends" may enter a plea deal early next week, a prosecutor said Thursday.
<p>A preliminary hearing for <a href="https://austonia.com/public-safety/austin-financial-advisor-pebble-beach-sexual-assault" target="_self">David Walter Osborne</a>, accused of attacking a woman last year in Pebble Beach, was set for Thursday but postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday "for a potential plea," said Monterey County Assistant District Attorney Lana Nassoura, who is prosecuting the case. </p><p>A plea deal would mean Osborne, the victim, investigators and potential witnesses would likely never have to appear before a judge. </p><p>Nassoura declined to elaborate on any plea negotiations. If a plea is not entered on Tuesday, she said, another preliminary hearing will be scheduled at a later date for the judge to decide if there is enough evidence to move to trial. </p><p>Defense attorney Lyn Agre of San Francisco did not respond to requests for comment. </p><p>Osborne faces charges of false imprisonment by violence, attempted forcible rape, assault with intent to commit a felony, and sexual penetration by a foreign object stemming from the May 2019 alleged assault at The Lodge at Pebble Beach.</p><p>Osborne, who has already entered a plea of "not guilty," could change it to "no contest" or "guilty" or a similar plea in exchange for a lighter sentence than he might face if found guilty in front of a judge or jury. </p><p>If that happens and a plea deal is struck, and it is accepted by the judge, the case could wrap up with no public testimony. </p><p>Osborne has been awaiting trial in Texas. Agre told Austonia in May that the charges are "baseless and should be dismissed outright." Last month, she told a judge that she planned to call witnesses from Texas, including a lab expert, for the hearing.</p><p>Thursday's hearing would have been the first public airing of evidence in the case, which has been shrouded in secrecy, protected by California law, since Monterey County authorities filed the charges against Osborne in May 2019.</p>They believe Osborne and his "high-profile" friends flew on a private jet that month and shared rooms at the lodge, an upscale resort nestled outside of San Jose in Northern California.<p><br/>Authorities won't identify the two golf pals, and prosecutors have declined to say if they—or a second woman initially described as a victim but later dropped from the complaint—would be called as witnesses if hearings or a trial move forward.</p><p>Neither prosecutors nor police will discuss details of the case. It is unclear whether the two women referred to in the initial report flew in with Osborne or if he met them while in California.</p><p> Osborne was jailed in Austin on May 21, 2019, after Monterey County Sheriff's deputies flew to Texas to arrest him at his downtown Austin office. He posted bail the next day. He was 48 at the time.</p>
<h5>Want to read more stories like this one? Start every day with a quick look at what's happening in Austin. Sign up for Austonia.com's free daily morning email.</h5><!-- Begin Mailchimp Signup Form -->
<link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/classic-10_7.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<style type="text/css">
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }<br />
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.<br />
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */<br />
</style>
<div id="mc_embed_signup">
<form action="https://austonia.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=4d0e7a7bb7e797f1d00b45a6b&id=ad2a1dda78" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate="">
<div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll">
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-EMAIL">Email Address </label>
<input type="email" value="" name="EMAIL" placeholder="️✉️ Enter your email address" class="required email" id="mce-EMAIL"></div>
<div class="mc-field-group input-group" style="display:none"> <strong>Austonia </strong>
<ul>
<li><input checked="checked" value="1" name="group[11998][1]" id="mce-group[11998]-11998-0"></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id="mce-responses" class="clear">
<div class="response" id="mce-error-response" style="display:none"></div>
<div class="response" id="mce-success-response" style="display:none"></div>
</div>
<!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->
<div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;" aria-hidden="true"><input type="text" name="b_4d0e7a7bb7e797f1d00b45a6b_ad2a1dda78" tabindex="-1" value=""></div>
<div class="clear"><input type="submit" value="Sign up now" name="subscribe" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" class="button"></div>
</div>
</form></div>
<!--End mc_embed_signup-->
From Your Site Articles
- Austin money manager's Pebble Beach sexual assault hearing ... ›
- David Osborne to face judge after Pebble Beach trip ended in ... ›
- Former Austin wealth manager strikes plea deal, avoids jail in California sex assault case - austonia ›
- Former Austin wealth manager strikes plea deal, avoids jail in California sex assault case - austonia ›
Keep Reading
Show less
