The Austin Police Department (APD) is conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 1724 West Anderson Lane.
On the evening of September 10, at approximately 10:59 p.m., Austin 9-1-1 received a call reporting a prowler/hot shot at the specified location. The caller indicated that a White male, later identified as Franklin Earl Miller, was attempting to break into their business and pulling on the doors. Surveillance footage showed Mr. Miller holding a rock and appeared to have a gun in his waistband. Within two minutes, APD officers were dispatched to the scene.
At around 11:11 p.m., APD officers arrived and made contact with Mr. Miller, who was non-compliant with their directions. One minute later, Mr. Miller placed his hand near his waistband and appeared to be holding a pistol. Officers directed him to put his hands up but he did not comply with repeated commands.
Throughout the interaction, Mr. Miller made sudden and exaggerated movements while officers continued de-escalation efforts. At approximately 11:20 p.m., officers observed Mr. Miller gripping a pistol in his hands and repeated commands for him to put down the firearm were ignored.
At approximately 11:25 p.m., after 14 minutes of attempts to gain compliance from Mr. Miller, he raised the gun towards the officers who then discharged their firearms at him. Officers immediately began rendering life-saving measures.
Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (A/TCEMS) arrived at approximately 11:30 p.m. and provided medical attention; however, Mr. Miller was pronounced deceased at 11:33 p.m.
No officers or other members of the public were injured during this incident.
The event was captured on APD officers’ body-worn cameras and per APD policy, the video will be released within ten business days. Five APD officers discharged their firearms; their tenure ranges from four months to six and a half years of service. A sixth officer deployed a pepperball launcher simultaneously as shots were fired.
APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident: a criminal investigation by the APD Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney's Office and an administrative investigation by the APD Internal Affairs Unit with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call APD's Special Investigation Unit at (512) 974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-8477. Tips can also be submitted online at www.austincrimestoppers.org where anonymity is maintained.
___