Tragedy as gun-wielding boy, 18, wearing only his underwear is shot dead by cops after wandering streets near his family's $1.3m mansion in gated community

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:29, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 21:52, 9 July 2026 A handgun-wielding Texas teenager was shot dead by sheriff's deputies after wandering the streets outside his family's mansion in his underwear while firing.  Austin Hodo, 18, was killed close to his family's $1.3 million home in a gated community in Boerne, Texas, in the early hours of Wednesday.   Deputies were called to the gated community where Hodo lived with his family after reports that the teen fired a shot at his neighbor.  They arrived to find Hodo, who recently graduated from the private Geneva School of Boerne, standing in the middle of the street dressed only in his underwear.  Dashcam footage has since emerged showing how officers pleaded with the youngster to put down the handgun he was carrying.  Hodo, who had been planning to start studying at Texas Tech University this fall, was seen carrying a shirt and a gun in the horrifying video as deputies asked him over 20 times to drop the weapon.  A seemingly-entranced Hodo, who did not appear to reply to the cops' pleas, instead raised the gun and shot at the group of four deputies, who opened fire on him.  The video cuts out after he let off his shot, with audio logged with Broadcastify revealing that officers tried to revive Hodo as they called for an ambulance.  Austin Hodo, seen here, was shot by deputies with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Boerne Hodo is pictured here in dash cam released by Kendall County Sheriff's Office following the early morning shooting The audio, first reported by KENS5, also logged the earlier interaction between deputies and a dispatcher, who told them: 'Someone just fired a gun.  'It will be a male standing in the middle of the roadway. He's going to be in his underwear shooting.'  Four deputies informed the dispatcher that they would respond to the scene, with the dispatcher telling them all that Hodo had tried to shoot the person who called 911.  Not long after 5AM, deputies started reporting their arrival on the scene. One officer told another: 'I want you to roll up with me. I'm going to use your car for cover.'  A deputy then advised them that Hodo was carrying a gun in his hand that was obscured by a shirt. The dash cam footage showed Hodo standing in the middle of the street, then turning round and walking towards deputies while raising his hand and opening fire.  'Shots fired. Shots fired', one of the deputies said before asking for an emergency crew to respond to the scene.  They told the dispatcher that they started applying tourniquets to his injuries, emergency teams arrived on site to find him with a pulse but he died shortly after.  Hodo was wandering close to his family's $1.3 million mansion (pictured) when he was killed  The video cuts out just as Hodo raises the handgun he had, which prompted deputies to open fire Police are seen here on the scene later on Wednesday after the shooting, which is still under investigation A statement from the department said: 'Despite numerous commands to drop the weapon, Hodo refused to comply.  'As Hodo continued advancing toward the deputies, he raised the handgun and fired at them.  'In response, deputies discharged their firearms. Hodo was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. 'Deputies then made a tactical approach and immediately rendered aid. Hodo was pronounced deceased at the scene. 'No deputies were injured during the incident. The investigation remains active and ongoing. 'This is a difficult time for everyone. Our office asks if you are a person of faith, please pray for everyone affected by this incident.' Officials are still investigating the shooting, no information surrounding a motive has been released.  Hodo studied at the Geneva School of Boerne, which charges up to $18,360 in annual fees, until earlier this year.  He played for the school's football team and was once awarded a 'Player of the Game' prize.