Welfare check turned into shooting when man confronted officers with weapon

At approximately 1:56 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 received an emergency call reporting a disturbance inside an apartment at 3050 Tamarron Boulevard. The caller stated there was a physical disturbance that could be heard coming from a nearby apartment.  Within the same minute, APD officers were dispatched to the call. 

At approximately 2:06 a.m., three officers arrived at the apartment complex and attempted to find the disturbance. Officer Gabriel Walker Prado located the apartment and through a sliding glass door in the rear patio area observed two subjects inside the apartment engaged in a disturbance. Officer Walker Prado alerted two additional officers that were nearby searching for the scene of the disturbance. Both officers approached the front door area, while the first officer stayed positioned near the patio area. While the two other officers approached the front door area, Officer Adam Reinhart arrived on scene. Officer Reinhart knocked on the front door and announced, “Austin Police.”

At approximately 2:09 a.m., Officer Walker Prado observed through the sliding glass door that one of the male subjects, later identified as Avelino Medel II, was armed with a gun in his hand. Mr. Medel, with the gun in his hand, pointed in an upward direction, then walked towards the front door where officers announced themselves. Officer Walker Prado at the rear by the patio immediately yelled 'gun, gun, gun,' and discharged his Department-issued firearm, striking Mr. Medel. Mr. Medel did not discharge his firearm. Mr. Medel fell to the ground, and the officers gave him verbal commands to stop moving and put his hands up. The second male subject involved in the disturbance opened the door and exited the apartment. Officers then made entry into the apartment, took Mr. Medel into custody, and rendered first aid.

Mr. Medel’s firearm was located on the floor and recovered in close proximity to where Mr. Medel fell.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., Mr. Medel was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital on Sunday, April 7. The other male involved in the disturbance did not sustain any injuries.

Currently, there are no charges pending, though the case remains under active investigation.