Girlfriend of man shot by park police officer says boyfriend was unarmed, never attacked officer

SAN ANTONIO – A woman said her boyfriend never attacked a San Antonio Park police officer and was unarmed when the officer fatally shot the man.

KSAT first reported about the shooting Thursday night. Police attributed the account of what happened to witnesses, including the man’s girlfriend.

Lydiana Rodriguez was standing near her boyfriend, 55-year-old Ray Valdez, when the officer shot him.

Rodriguez said Valdez ignored the commands to stop and refused to get on the ground. The reason: He was recovering from surgery and was in pain.

As for the knife police said Valdez had, Rodriguez said he did pull it out and she tried to get it away from him.

Rodriguez said the knife was not opened and Valdez tossed it away before the officer fired his stun gun.

“He just threw it, and not even near him,” Rodriguez said.

A friend who said he was also there agreed that Valdez was unarmed when the officer fired his sidearm.

“He was hollering and telling him to drop his gun. He didn't have a gun,” Richard Sanchez said. “What happened was they tased him and he took the tasers out of him like nothing.”

It was after Valdez showed he was successfully fighting against the electrical shock that the 8-year San Antonio police veteran used deadly force.

Rodriguez said on the evening of the shooting, she and Valdez were walking to a bus stop on Zarzamora Street and discussing lost bus tickets. She said he never assaulted her as police said he did at the scene.

“This is what witnesses are telling us now. I want to make that very clear. This is what witnesses are telling us,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Thursday at the scene.

“Of course, we want a thorough investigation to see what really happened, and I'm sure there was witnesses other than her,” Valdez’s sister said.

SAPD is still investigating the shooting.

"The statement by this witness to the media is not true. Previously obtained statements and evidence back up the officer's version of the encounter," said Sergeant Jesse Salame.

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