SAN ANTONIO – A driver who was shot dead in South Bexar County by a trooper from the Texas Department of Public Safety has been identified as Allen Pacheco, 32, of San Antonio.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident, which happened after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on northbound Highway 16, about five miles south of Loop 1604.
According to preliminary reports, Pacheco was shot to death after the trooper pulled him over for having a broken tail light.
"During the contact, the driver stated that he was a convicted felon and had a weapon in the vehicle,” said Deon Cockrell, a spokesman for the DPS. “Based on the driver's statement, the trooper attempted to detain the subject."
Cockrell said Pacheco resisted, then tried to run back to his car.
“The trooper deployed his Taser. The Taser was ineffective,” Cockrell said. "The trooper was fearing that there's a possibility that the driver might be trying to get back in the vehicle, so the trooper used his weapon."
Pacheco was hit at least one time and died at the scene. Investigators who spent hours collecting evidence later confirmed that he had a gun in his car. Cockrell said there was a loaded shotgun on the back seat.
DPS confirmed that Pacheco had a felony conviction, but did not say what the crime was. Online records show that he had prior arrests for evading arrest, racing on a highway and assaulting a family member.
The name of the trooper who was involved has not been released, but Cockrell said he is a two-year veteran of the department.