18-year-old accused of shooting at Austin police officer

Austin police have arrested a teenager suspected of shooting at an officer during a neighborhood patrol early Thursday in Southeast Austin.

The shooting happened around 12:54 a.m. in the 6900 block of Trendal Lane, just south of East William Cannon Drive. Police said two officers who were patrolling in the area saw a vehicle with two men inside parked on the side of the road.

As the officers drove by, the men ducked down inside their vehicle, police said.

Officers approached the vehicle and smelled marijuana, police said. The officers pulled the driver and passenger out of the vehicle and began to frisk them for weapons. As they did, the passenger pulled out a handgun and fired a shot over his shoulder, police said.

“The gun went off right next to the officer’s face,” police said.

The passenger, identified by police as Damon Benavidez, has been charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest.

The driver, who police did not name on Thursday, has been charged with retaliation, harassment of a public servant, evading on foot, possession of a criminal instrument and failure to identify, police said. He also has an outstanding warrant.