Case:                  22-3190037

Date:                   November 15, 2022   

Time:                  12:28 a.m.        

Location:            2216 South 3rd Street

Deceased:          Rajan David Moonesinghe, Middle Eastern Male, 7/5/1989
 
The Austin Police Department (APD) continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred 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 3^rd Street in the area of 2^nd Street and Fletcher Street.  The caller stated a man was pointing a rifle down the street.  The caller described the man as a white male, wearing a grey robe and dark pants.

One minute later, at 12:30 a.m., APD officers were dispatched to this location.  The caller remained on the phone line with Austin 9-1-1 Communications while officers responded to the scene.  The caller said the man seemed to be scared of something inside of his own home and was turning the outside lights on and off.  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 Rajan David Moonesinghe.  The address where Mr. Moonesinghe was located was later identified as 2216 South 3rd Street.

Two officers, driving separate marked police vehicles arrived at approximately 12:33 a.m., three minutes after the initial call was dispatched.  As one of the officers pulled up to the residence, he heard gunshots and realized that he was directly in front of where Mr. Moonesinghe was located.  Both arriving officers then drove past the residence.  The two officers exited their vehicles and sought cover while Mr. Moonesinghe, who was standing on the porch, continued firing a rifle.

The first officer to observe Mr. Moonesinghe, gave him a verbal command to drop the gun.  The officer fired his Department approved firearm at Mr. Moonesinghe.  Mr. Moonesinghe was struck and fell to the ground.

The second officer who had just exited his vehicle made contact with the first officer.  The second officer gave verbal commands to Mr. Moonesinghe to show his hands.  The officers did not receive a response from Mr. Moonesinghe.  Both officers observed the rifle on the ground near Mr. Moonesinghe.  A third officer then arrived on scene and all three officers approached Mr. Mooesinghe 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.  One of the officers 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 Mr. Moonesinghe to a local hospital where Mr. 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 Mr. Moonesinghe and several spent shell casings were recovered and seized as evidence.
 
This incident was captured on body-worn camera.  One officer discharged his Department-approved firearm.  Per APD protocol, the officer has been placed on administrative leave. The Officer has two years and nine months of service with the Department.
 
APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident; a criminal investigation conducted by the APD Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney's Office, and an administrative investigation conducted by the APD Internal Affairs Unit, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS, or use the new Crime Stoppers App.