Former classmate, coach honor fallen Officer Miguel Moreno

SAN ANTONIO – Dozens are paying their respects and showing their support for the San Antonio Police Department after Office Miguel Moreno died Friday morning.

Moreno, 32, was shot in the head Thursday afternoon. His partner, Officer Julio Cavazos, 36, was also shot but is expected to survive.

Those who knew Moreno say they can’t believe he’s gone. With the flags lowered at half-staff, many paid their respects at a growing memorial.

“The candles are just our way to honor him and let him know that hopefully, he finds his light home. He was a young kid. He was a good guy. You don't see many good guys like him around,” said Jason Herrera, Moreno’s former classmate.

Herrera graduated with Moreno from Lanier High School in 2002.

“Having friends like him was the reason why I probably didn't go the other way as far as doing dumb stuff in my life,” Herrera said.

Related: History of SAPD officers killed in line of duty

Moreno was pronounced dead at 11:11 a.m. Friday. Herrera said he’s keeping the officer’s family in his prayers.

“You never know when you're going to be here or not. He was doing his job like anybody else,” Herrera said.

Moreno and Cavazos’s former football coach at Lanier High, Don Gaitan, is also honoring the Moreno.

“I will make sure that while I'm here, and until I retire, that no one will wear his number,” Gaitan said.

Moreno was an offensive lineman. Gaitan held back tears as he talked about Moreno and what he was able to accomplish after his time at Lanier High.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family,” Gaitan said.

Stories of Moreno and the kind of man he was will continue to be told this week as more people honor him. Funeral services have not been made, but are expected to be held sometime after the Fourth of July.

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