I'm wondering if these are truly automatic weapons, or just a journalist who wouldn't know the difference.
The tv piece I saw on NBC11 earlier seemed be by a PD spokesman and he made reference to the full-auto capability, as opposed to semi-auto fire. Also referred to the Northridge CA robbery incident from a few years back. It sounded like the speaker knew the diff btw fuul & semi auto. This IS Texas, after all! ;)