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AUSTIN (KXAN) – A visit to the Austin Code Department near Pinkney Lane in southwest Austin turned violent on Wednesday when a man opened fire, but Code Department officials said there was no history of aggression or violence on his own Plot given.
Austin Police and Police officers visited the house at 10600 block on Pinkney Lane after 9:00 am Wednesday to deliver the warrant and mow the overgrown lawn. Officials said an estimated two code workers and three police officers visited the property.
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The visit escalated to a SWAT situation after the resident fired from his home. After hours of de-escalation tactics by APD, crisis negotiators and psychiatrists, a fire broke out in the house.
The man later left his garage “guns in hand,” police chief Joseph Chacon said before a SWAT officer shot and hit him. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, officials said.
Now there is only one look into the life of the man whom the neighbors supposedly keep to themselves.
“Minded his own business and appreciated everyone taking care of theirs,” says Grady Preston, who has lived next door since 2008.
Preston says he would do his neighbor favors every now and then. The last time they spoke was about 10 days ago.
“Knocked on the door around 9am one morning and woke me up and was about to visit,” said Preston.
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Preston says he’s only interacted with his neighbor about 30 or 40 times in the past decade.
“I liked him and we never had any problems, never a crossword to remember,” he said.
The Austin Code department will flag properties that have shown potential threats to workers – either humans, animals or the environment, a department spokesman said. All violent or aggressive incidents during the code visits are reported to APD.
KXAN found four code enforcement notices between 2019 and 2021, all for lawn care violations.
Officials said the house had never been flagged as a threat in the department’s case management system. However, they said it has been visited multiple times in recent years: two complaints in 2020 and three cases in 2021.
“Very rarely had he ever trimmed and maintained it, so they had looked at him before,” said Preston.
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Police officers do not accompany law enforcement personnel on every visit, officials from the department said. However, if property owners fail to resolve a Code violation within a certain timeframe, APD officers will escort Code staff to deliver the warrant. This practice has been in force since 2012.
In the violations documents found by KXAN, each gives the property owner seven days to comply and warns that if another violation occurs within a year, “the city can take action to clean the property without notice.”
Preston says he’s disappointed with how things turned out.
“I was hoping he would change his mind, you know, that they could change his mind to give up and … get stuck,” said Preston. “I was always happy to see him when he came to see me. So, I’ll miss him. “
Code enforcement cases are reported through Austin 3-1-1 or by completing an online complaint form. Code inspections cover both interior and exterior features of a property.
Violations of the Code include the following circumstances:
- Weeds, grass over 12 inches tall
- Branches block the right of way
- Fire Damaged Property: Regulation enforcement must evaluate the property and either repair the building to comply or demolish it
- Dangerous structures: Exposed electrical lines, considerable fire damage, open and abandoned structures
- Excessive Litter: You are not allowed to “collect rubbish, rubbish, scrub, filth, carrion, or any other unsightly, obnoxious, or unhealthy item on your property”.
In 2021, property cuts are the most common violations reported to the Austin Code, including overgrown grass and weeds. Other violations identified include improper land use and structural issues.
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