Executive Summary
- A Travis County grand jury declined to indict officers Javier Rodriguez, Joseph Kephart, Katherine Alzola, and Andy Yu.
- The officers were involved in the fatal shooting of Zachary Labrie in November 2024.
- Police reported that Labrie led authorities on a pursuit involving alleged carjackings and pointed a gun at officers.
- District Attorney José Garza confirmed the grand jury found the officers’ conduct was not unlawful.
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — A Travis County grand jury has declined to indict four Austin Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Zachary Labrie, concluding a review of the November 2024 incident. Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced the decision, confirming that the grand jury found the officers’ conduct was not unlawful based on the evidence presented.
The officers cleared in the inquiry were identified as Javier Rodriguez, Joseph Kephart, Katherine Alzola, and Andy Yu. The shooting occurred on November 7, 2024, at an apartment complex in northwest Austin following a confrontation with Labrie. According to investigators, the officers discharged their weapons after Labrie pointed a handgun at them. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the exchange.
Law enforcement officials stated that the deadly encounter was the culmination of a sequence of events spanning several hours. The timeline began when a Bee Cave police officer attempted to stop Labrie for speeding on Highway 71. Police reports indicate that after fleeing the traffic stop, Labrie allegedly broke into an ex-girlfriend’s apartment while armed with a shotgun and subsequently carjacked two individuals at separate locations.
Authorities noted that Labrie was on parole at the time of the incident and had removed his ankle monitor during the pursuit. The grand jury, comprised of independent community members, reviewed witness testimony, forensic evidence, and applicable law before reaching the decision to issue a no-bill, effectively clearing the officers of criminal liability.
Legal Oversight & Procedural Conclusion
The grand jury’s refusal to indict signals the conclusion of the criminal investigation into the officers’ use of lethal force, affirming that the judicial body found the actions reasonable under the circumstances presented. This process serves as a critical mechanism for public accountability in officer-involved shootings, weighing the immediate threat posed to public safety against the necessity of force used. While the legal review regarding the officers is complete, it is important to note that all individuals involved in criminal investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
