Case: 25-2530177

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Time: 3:31 a.m.

Location: 700 block Azie Morton Rd

Deceased victim: Kay Smith, White female, 1-23-1994

Arrested: Brandon Thompson, White male, 31 years of age
 
On Wednesday, September 10, at 3:31 a.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers were doing a curfew check in the area of Zilker Park. Officers located a vehicle that was reported stolen in the 700 block of Azie Morton Road and called for the vehicle to be towed. While some officers left to patrol other areas of the park, Officer Reinhart remained at the scene to wait for the tow truck. When the tow truck driver was preparing to load the vehicle onto the tow truck, he was approached by two subjects claiming that the vehicle was theirs. A short time later, Officer Reinhart approached the subjects as they began to walk into a wooded area. 
 
At 4:10 a.m., Officer Reinhart approached the woodline and identified himself as Austin Police. He gave multiple commands for the subjects to stop and to come out of the woods. Officer Reinhart stated that the subjects were detained and not free to go. The female subject, later identified as Kay Smith, 1-23-94, began walking towards Officer Reinhart. Officer Reinhart gave commands to a male subject behind Ms. Smith, later identified as Brandon Thompson, 30 years of age, telling him to get his hands out of his pocket. 
 
Shortly after, Mr. Thompson fired shots, striking Ms. Smith in the head and Officer Reinhart in the abdomen. Officer Reinhart returned fire. Mr. Thompson fled on foot back into the wooded area, and Officer Reinhart waited for backup. Approximately two minutes later, additional officers arrived on scene. An APD officer transported Officer Reinhart to a local hospital, and he was treated for his injuries. Ms. Smith was also transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced braindead at 2:37 p.m. the same day. 
 
APD officers, including SWAT, AIR1, and K9, began searching the area for Mr. Thompson. At 7:44 a.m., a suspicious person call came in from the Austin Independent School District Police Department (AISD PD) at Barton Hills Elementary School. Prior to the call, the school already was in a “Secure” status. Once Barton Hills Elementary learned that the suspect was near the campus, the campus went into “Lockdown” status. An AISD sergeant recognized the person who had the same description as the suspect involved in the earlier shooting. The sergeant gave verbal commands to the suspect, such as “Stop, get on the ground,” however, Mr. Thompson continued to run. 
 
APD officers continued to search for Mr. Thompson. He was spotted by an APD officer at approximately 7:52 a.m. and fled towards a home in the 2500 block of Homedale Drive. Mr. Thompson kicked open the front door, ran into the house and the homeowner opened fire, striking him in the arm and the leg. Mr. Thompson was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. 
 
Homicides Detectives, Special Investigations Unit detectives and Crime Scene Specialists responded to process the scene and interview witnesses. The investigation showed Thompson had shot his girlfriend Smith in the head and shot the officer, before fleeing into the woods. 

Thompson was magistrated at the hospital on September 11, 2025, and charged with the following:

• Attempted Capital Murder of a Peace Officer – 1st Degree Felony
• Burglary of a Residence – 1st Degree Felony

The charge of 1st Degree Murder was added on Wednesday September 17, 2025. He is currently in custody in the Travis County Jail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.
 
This case is being investigated as Austin's 43rd homicide of 2025.