An Austin teen named Brad Levi Ayala has medical treatment after a police officer shot him in the head with a projectile during a protest, Texas police confirmed.
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters on Monday that Ayala, 16, was injured during a protest over the weekend when the teenager was shot in the forehead with a “less lethal” beanbag projectile, The Austin Chronicle reported.
Manley said Ayala is in “serious but stable condition.”
“I’ve seen the video where he is standing and it appears as though he is struck in that video that I’ve seen on social media with a less-lethal impact munition in the head, in the forehead,” Manley said Monday.
That video clip is below.
In a post on GoFundMe, Ayala’s family said he is “recovering and stable but the recovery will be a long process.” They added he is conscious, but “in a great deal of pain and discomfort” and said doctors continue to monitor him.
It’s noteworthy to mention that the family indicated on that page that Brad was hit with a “rubber bullet” and not the beanbag round mentioned by police.
Manley confirmed police also shot a 20-year-old black man in the head with the less lethal rounds, and he is in critical condition.
“I’m crushed. I’ve cried a few times today,” Manley said. “This was two very young people that we believe are from our community, but regardless, that are right now fighting for their life and seriously injured. That is not what we set out to do as a police department.”
“I know that we are investigating that case, as well. We are trying to pull together all of our video, body-worn camera video, whatever else we may have, to piece together what happened in that incident.”
Protesters helped carry Ayala down to officers to receive medical attention. Ayala’s brother thanked those protesters in a tweet and criticized officers for not responding.
Manley said while the department is thoroughly reviewing its crowd-control policies, his department’s use of force over the weekend was “within policy.”
