Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis shows body-worn camera video during a news conference at police headquarters in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, of an officer-involved shooting that killed Raymond Lee Howard on August 28 at 1807 West Slaughter Lane.

The Austin Police Department on Tuesday released body camera footage and identified the officers and victim involved in last week’s fatal shooting of a burglary suspect inside a Thundercloud Subs shop in South Austin. A bystander was also wounded in the gunfire.

Detectives fatally shot Raymond Lee Howard, 33, during a fugitive apprehension operation at the sandwich shop at 1807 West Slaughter Lane, according to the Police Department. The department identified the officers as Detective Marcus Gonzalez, who has served eight years and two months with the department; Detective Craig Pruitt, who has served seven years; and Detective Ricardo Cardona, who has served 12 years and five months.

The shooting occurred around 5:26 p.m. Thursday after the undercover detectives lured Howard to the strip mall as part of a planned sting operation. Police said Howard, who was wanted in connection with a string of burglaries and home invasions in August, had been identified at the scene after arriving on a motorcycle.

According to the department, Detectives Gonzalez, Pruitt, and Cardona entered the restaurant wearing vests marked “police” and gave Howard repeated commands to get on the ground. Instead, police said, Howard turned toward a bystander, pulled a handgun from a crossbody bag, and refused to comply.

This shopping center in the 1800 block of West Slaughter Lane, shown Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, was the site of a police shooting Thursday.

The bystander, later identified as Fernando Martinez, physically engaged Howard in an effort to restrain him. As the two struggled on the ground, Howard raised his weapon and fired at least one round, police said. The detectives then fired their service weapons, striking Howard.

Officers attempted lifesaving measures, but Howard was pronounced dead at 5:46 p.m. Martinez was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and later released. It remains unclear whether his injury came from Howard’s gun or police fire.

Martinez attended a Police Department news conference Tuesday where Chief Lisa Davis praised him as “extremely heroic” and said the department would help pay his medical bills.

“I want to thank the Lord above,” Martinez said. “I want to thank my family who has been with me through this time. Everyone involved in this incident, as mentioned earlier, acted swiftly.”

Police said Howard had prior burglary convictions and was suspected of multiple offenses this month, including burglaries and home invasions in which firearms were stolen. On Aug. 27, the day before the shooting, police said Howard committed an armed home burglary while the homeowner was present. That incident escalated the danger posed to the community, police said.

Fernando Martinez walks away after speaking at a news conference at police headquarters in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, about an officer-involved shooting that happened August 28 at 1807 West Slaughter Lane. Martinez was a bystander who helped stop suspect Raymond Lee Howard.

Fernando Martinez walks away after speaking at a news conference at police headquarters in Austin, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, about an officer-involved shooting that happened August 28 at 1807 West Slaughter Lane. Martinez was a bystander who helped stop suspect Raymond Lee Howard.

As required by department policy, the three detectives involved have been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated. The Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit is conducting a criminal inquiry in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, while Internal Affairs — with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight — is leading a parallel administrative review, the Police Department said.

The Police Department said it released the body camera footage, along with police radio traffic, in the interest of transparency and accountability. The materials, which include slow-motion versions of the videos, have been reviewed by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Police Oversight, the department noted.