Deadly shooting at HEB: a man killed by an identified security agent

AUSTIN, TX – So far, no charges have been filed in connection with the deadly HEB shooting in North Austin, but police are sharing more information about what led to the shooting.

Austin police identified the deceased as 32-year-old Michael Rosario Jr..

APD says it started with a shoplifting incident.

“I went to the grocery store a little before 4 p.m. to do some shopping, was waiting in the self-checkout line and heard something that I immediately recognized as gunshots.” , said an anonymous witness.

APD responded to reports of a shooting at HEB on Canyon Ridge Drive on Friday, September 27th. Initially it was reported to be an active shooter, but it was later determined that was not the case.

A caller told APD that a person was shoplifting and lunged at a security guard with a knife.

According to APD, the investigation revealed that the security guard was trying to get Rosario out of the store. Rosario then took out a knife and armed himself with a hubcap as a shield.

“It was a very surreal moment. Some people were hit on the ground. Some people ran away. Some people stayed where they were,” the witness said.

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After the Taser was ineffective, Rosario charged at the security guard, prompting the guard to shoot Rosario.

Rosario was transported to a local hospital, but later died from his injuries.

A security expert FOX 7 Austin spoke with said if an individual approaches an officer with a bladed weapon, they have the legal authority to use deadly force.

“If their life is threatened or if the life of an individual is threatened with bodily harm, injury or death, they have the right to use force, even deadly force, to protect their property or protect these individuals,” said Michael Matranga, CEO of a security consulting firm in Texas.

Days later, the community is still in shock from the shooting.

“The fact that this person is now dead and this happened in my own community and this happened in my supermarket,” the witness said.

HEB confirmed with FOX 7 on Monday that it was a third-party security guard who fired the shots, not an HEB employee.

APD told us the two did not know each other.

We are not identifying the shooter at this time because he has not been charged.