Austin police investigating why officers fired at crowd transporting injured man

Police in Austin, Texas, are investigating why a crowd of protesters attempting to carry a wounded university student while seeking medical attention was fired upon with “less-lethal” ammunition by officers.

CNN first reported that Austin Police Department Chief Brian Manley said during a press conference that the incident, which was seen on video posted to Twitter, was under investigation. No officers have yet been disciplined.

Manley said at the press conference that the group of protesters was directed by officers to carry the wounded student, 20-year-old Justin Howell, to the police station where Howell could receive medical attention. The 20-year-old reportedly suffered brain damage after being struck in the head by beanbag rounds fired by police. The firing of those projectiles is also under investigation.

“It’s reported that they were fired upon with less-lethal munitions as they brought this victim towards the officers to get him medical help,” the chief said.

Chief Manley briefing in regards to this weekend’s protests https://t.co/vg75Arcmly

— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) June 1, 2020

Howell’s brother told CNN that the incident was indicative of the danger posed by so-called less-lethal ammunition.

“These quote-unquote less-lethal rounds, these beanbag rounds, are only less lethal by technicality,” he said. “We really shouldn’t take too much comfort in that language and we shouldn’t take too much comfort in their use.”

Protests have engulfed Austin and other cities across the country for days over the death of George Floyd. Video of Floyd’s arrest by Minnesota police showed a white officer with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd, a black man, said he couldn’t breathe.