At 9:30 a.m. on May 9, 2025, Travis County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received notification from Austin Police Department that they were tracking a stolen vehicle that was likely heading into TCSO’s jurisdiction. Deputies in the area were notified and received updates on the vehicle’s location, shared Kristen Dark, TCSO public information officer.

At 9:36 a.m., a TCSO deputy observed the vehicle and the suspect in the parking lot of the Randalls grocery store located in the entrance of Steiner Ranch at 5145 RM 620 N.

The deputy exited her patrol vehicle and confronted the suspect, identified as Graham James Freeman, 17 of Pflugerville.

Freeman began to evade in the stolen vehicle while the deputy attempted to detain him, resulting in a single vehicle collision with a tree in the parking lot. During the brief struggle, Freeman grabbed a pistol and fired, shooting himself in the leg. Freeman was subsequently taken into custody and treated on scene by Austin Travis County EMS.

The on-scene investigation confirmed TCSO deputies did not fire their duty weapons during the arrest, therefore, the Texas Rangers will not be the investigating agency. TCSO will work the case.

Freeman is pending charges for Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Prohibited Weapon, Evading, and Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer.

“I’m so thankful the outcome wasn’t worse than this. We could easily be in a situation where the deputy or the suspect could have been killed,” Sheriff Sally Hernandez said.