SAN ANTONIO – Based on the ID he was found wearing, San Antonio police believe the city’s latest homicide victim was a restaurant worker, carrying his take-out dinner, possibly on the way home.
Officer Doug Greene, spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department, said the victim, 28, was shot as he waited at a bus stop in the 400 block of Porter about 10 p.m. Sunday.
“The victim’s property was located at the bus stop and he was located approximately 30 yards from the bus stop,” Greene said. “(That) kind of tells us that he was trying to get away from that location.”
Greene said the victim had been shot in the chest and collapsed in the street.
His body lay in the street close to Maria Isabel Rodriguez’s home.
Rodriguez said she was watching the news when she heard what she thought was a tire blowout.
“I heard, boom! One time, that’s all,” Rodriguez said.
Elizabeth Celestino said she looked out her front window after hearing the single gunshot, but no squealing of tires or brakes. She said the sight was unnerving.
“He was trying to get back up and he fell backwards. He fell down. He couldn’t get up,” Celestino said.
Greene said the victim was transported to the San Antonio Military Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
“I’m speechless. I really am. That’s just really sad,” Terri Guess said as she stood at the same bus stop. “That’s really the most horrible thing I’ve heard in a long time, really around here.”
San Antonio police are investigating whether the victim was targeted or if it was a random shooting.
“Right now we have very little to go on,” Greene said. “We know that somebody out there may have some information and can really help us with this case.”
Greene said he urges the public to call 224-STOP where Crime Stoppers offers up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. He said callers can remain anonymous.
Monday’s murder was the city’s 92nd of 2015, just nine shy of last year’s 101.