Trail Terror in Austin as Man Follows Jogger and Threatens Her Boyfriend with Gun

Terrifying Encounter on Austin Trail Ends in Arrest after Gun Pulled on Jogger’s Boyfriend

What Began as a Jog Turned into a Fight for Safety

A peaceful jog through a park in southeast Austin turned into a frightening encounter when a woman found herself being followed by a man who later pulled a handgun on her boyfriend. The tense situation unfolded at Mabel Davis Park on Monday evening and ended in an arrest after a large-scale police search.

Woman Followed and Threatened While Jogging

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. when a woman was jogging along the trails of Mabel Davis Park. As she made her way through the area, she passed a man, later identified as 29-year-old Christopher James La Duke. According to the woman's statement to police, La Duke was behaving erratically and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Shortly after passing him, the woman noticed La Duke was following her, shouting about a dog that was with her. He claimed the dog was attacking him, though the woman stated that the dog had done nothing of the sort. Alarmed by the man’s behavior, she quickly called her boyfriend, who lived nearby, for help.

Confrontation Escalates When Gun Is Pulled

The woman’s boyfriend arrived near the 3300 block of Parker Lane, at the end of one of the park’s trails. Upon confronting La Duke, the situation escalated. According to an arrest affidavit, La Duke pulled a handgun from a fanny pack and pointed it at the couple, putting their lives in immediate danger.

Massive Police Response Locks Down Park

In response to the emergency, multiple officers set up a perimeter around Mabel Davis Park and the surrounding neighborhood. Police received several 911 calls from people in the park who reported seeing a man carrying a gun.

Around 7 p.m., an officer spotted La Duke leaving a vehicle and running back into the park. Over the next 30 minutes, callers continued to report sightings of the suspect, who was seen carrying a firearm openly along the trails.

Police took swift action to evacuate portions of the park, while advising residents to shelter in place. Some park-goers remained in bathrooms for safety as law enforcement worked to contain the suspect.

Officers Track and Arrest Suspect Without Incident

La Duke was seen walking back and forth along a trail for nearly 50 minutes, repeatedly ignoring police commands issued via loudspeaker and even ignoring a circling police helicopter overhead. Eventually, he changed direction and started heading northbound through the park.

At that point, officers moved in and successfully detained La Duke without further incident. He was taken into custody, and officers recovered a Black Springfield Armory Hellcat pistol at the time of arrest.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Christopher James La Duke has been officially charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a serious felony in the state of Texas. As of now, no injuries have been reported, and the swift action by the woman and her boyfriend likely prevented a much more tragic outcome.

Community Shaken but Safe

Residents of southeast Austin, particularly those who frequent Mabel Davis Park, have expressed relief over the arrest but concern over the presence of such danger in a normally peaceful public space. The park has since returned to normal activity, though the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of remaining alert and aware, even in familiar settings.

Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding La Duke’s actions that day.

Location:
Mabel Davis Park, Southeast Austin, Texas, United States of America

Date of Incident:
Monday, June 9, 2025 (approx. 5:30 p.m.)

If you have any further details regarding this case or witnessed anything unusual in the area during that time, you're encouraged to contact local law enforcement.