North Austin News

The Austin Police Department (APD) is currently investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place on December 26, 2023, at 1501 E Howard Lane. As part of their commitment to transparency and accountability, APD has released preliminary information about the incident.

Officer Andrew Horne, who has four and a half years of service with the Austin Police Department, discharged his Department-approved firearm during the incident. Officer Horne has been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with APD protocol. The investigation into the shooting will be conducted concurrently by the APD Special Investigations Unit and the Travis County District Attorney's Office.

The chain of events leading up to the shooting began at approximately 1:18 p.m. when a male caller reported to Austin 9-1-1 Communications that there was a man with a rifle in the parking lot at 1501 East Howard Lane. The caller also mentioned that the man was shooting, but did not provide any further information before disconnecting the call.

Officers Andrew Horne and Brian Epps were dispatched to the scene at 1:19 p.m. Upon their arrival, one of the officers reported over the police radio that the man with the rifle had pointed it at them as they drove past. Both officers sought cover behind parked vehicles and continued to observe the situation.

At approximately 1:28 p.m., the man, later identified as Konrad Farad Khorshahian, yelled at the officers that he wanted them to shoot him. Despite repeated verbal commands from the officers to drop the weapon, Mr. Khorshahian disregarded their instructions.

Officer Horne discharged his firearm at approximately 1:29 p.m. after Mr. Khorshahian pointed his rifle directly at him. Both officers immediately reported "Shots fired" over the police radio, and Mr. Khorshahian was pronounced deceased at 1:48 p.m. after receiving medical attention.

The subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Khorshahian was in possession of a BB gun rifle at the time of the shooting. The incident was captured on the officers' body-worn cameras, and the footage has been made available to the public. However, it is important to note that the body-worn camera videos may not capture everything that the officers or witnesses saw or experienced during the incident.

In a press release, APD emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in serving and building relationships within the Austin community. The release included links to the audio and video materials from the ongoing investigation, which are available on APD's YouTube and other social media platforms.

APD encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact their Special Investigation Unit at (512) 974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. Tips can also be submitted online at austincrimestoppers.org, and anonymity is guaranteed for those who wish to remain anonymous.

As the investigation into this officer-involved shooting continues, APD remains committed to its mission of building trust and maintaining strong relationships with the community.