
Seven San Antonio police officers were shot while responding to a “suicide in progress” call, leading to a tense standoff with the armed suspect.
At a Glance
- Seven police officers shot while responding to a suicide call in San Antonio, Texas
- Incident occurred on Jan. 22 on Stone Oak Parkway, beginning just before 9 p.m. local time
- Suspect, a man in his 40s with prior arrests, was found deceased after a standoff
- All injured officers hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries
- SWAT team was deployed, and residents were evacuated from the apartment complex
Chaotic Scene Unfolds as Officers Respond to Emergency Call
A routine response to a distress call in San Antonio, Texas, quickly escalated into a dangerous situation for local law enforcement. Seven police officers were shot while responding to what was initially reported as a “suicide in progress” call at an apartment complex on Stone Oak Parkway.
The incident began on January 22, just before 9 p.m. local time, when officers arrived at the scene. San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Chief William P. McManus provided details on the unfolding events, stating, “Officers were initially responding to a suicide in progress. The first officer arrived after a family member called police.”
The situation quickly turned violent as the suspect opened fire on the responding officers. Chief McManus explained the harrowing sequence of events: “The first officer arrived, was shot, and six others subsequent to that were shot as well,” Chief McManus said.
As the situation escalated, three additional officers were injured during the ensuing standoff, bringing the total number of injured officers to seven. All of the wounded officers, with service records ranging from 4 to 8 years, were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
In response to the active shooter situation, the SAPD deployed a SWAT team to the scene. The suspect, described as a man in his 40s, barricaded himself inside an apartment, leading to a tense standoff that lasted for several hours.
“We are working on a plan to get the shooter out. The folks who were able to be evacuated, were evacuated. The others who were not able to be evacuated safely were not,” Chief McManus said.
Local resident Joseph Loredo recounted the frightening experience, describing hearing gunshots and helicopters during the incident. As a precautionary measure, residents of the apartment complex were evacuated to ensure their safety.
The suspect involved in the shooting had a prior criminal record and was out on bond at the time of the incident. He had been arrested on January 18 for assault and driving while intoxicated, just days before the violent confrontation with police.
“At the end of the event the suspect was found to be deceased, we don’t know if he was shot by a self-inflicted wound or whether or not he was shot by squad officers,” Chief McManus stated.
The SAPD is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. As the community grapples with this tragic event, questions arise about the suspect’s motives and the series of events that led to such a violent outcome.