A deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on a motorcycle at about 6 p.m. Wednesday night. Officials say the motorcyclist did not stop, leading to a pursuit.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — A motorcyclist died Wednesday night after authorities say he pointed a handgun at a deputy following a pursuit along Interstate 10 in the Texas Hill Country.
The incident began around 6 p.m. west of Kerrville when a Gillespie County deputy attempted to pull over a motorcyclist, according to Gillespie County Sheriff Chris Ayala. When the rider did not stop, a pursuit began along I-10 and crossed county lines.
Authorities say the motorcyclist eventually stopped in Kerr County. After stopping, the rider got off the motorcycle, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the deputy, according to a preliminary report from the sheriff’s office.
The deputy then opened fire.
Ayala said the deputy attempted life-saving measures, but the suspect died at the scene. The motorcyclist has not yet been identified.
The deputy involved in the shooting was not injured and has been placed on administrative duty while the incident is investigated.
Ayala said shootings involving deputies from the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office are rare.
“The last recorded history is about 27 years ago here in Gillespie County that we had our last officer-involved shooting with a deputy from Gillespie County,” Ayala said.
The pursuit crossed county lines, but Ayala said the department’s “fresh pursuit” policy allows deputies to continue a chase if the violation occurs within their view.
“I tell deputies all the time no pursuit is worth the injury to a citizen or to the deputy themselves,” Ayala said.
The deputy involved in the shooting is assigned to the Central Texas Criminal Interdiction Task Force, a unit that operates across several counties.
Ayala said the task force covers a wide area of Central Texas.
“Actually can start from Kimble, wind up in Kerr, hit Gillespie, back into Kerr,” Ayala said. “Then you run for a while and now you’re in Kendall County. We’re talking about a good 60 miles, give or take, of jurisdiction as a team that we get to enforce and stop the illegal activities.”
Authorities did not immediately release additional details about the suspect or what prompted the initial traffic stop. The shooting remains under investigation.