Suspect accused of killing 10-year-old girl in drive-by shooting claims innocence

Cody Gann: ‘I don't know anything about what they're talking about'

SAN ANTONIO – Charged with murder in a young girl’s death, Cody Gann, 18, said he had nothing to do with it.

For the first time since he was arrested Thursday for the murder of 10-year-old Delilah Hernandez, the teen spoke with KSAT 12 News. Besides proclaiming his innocence, Gann denied any involvement in the drive-by shooting.

“I don’t got anything to say ‘cause I don’t know anything about what they’re talking about,” Gann said.

Gann said he didn’t know anything about the rifle casing police found in a car linked to him. He also said police had their timeline wrong, and that he returned home an hour earlier on Thanksgiving morning than what was stated in his arrest affidavit.

Gann said he and his girlfriend got in at 6 a.m. and they had locked the keys in the car the night before. Police wrote in the arrest affidavit that Gann's sister told them he had returned just after 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. Gann said she didn't say that and police were "trying to change things."

The shooting that killed Delilah happened shortly before 7 a.m.

Police are confident they have the right man. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Saturday that it “pissed” him off that Gann was released on bond less than a day after he was arrested.

"As soon as I learned that, which was yesterday afternoon, I was on the phone with the DA, and he called me back a short time later letting me know that there was another bond hearing scheduled for Monday,” McManus said.

Gann’s parents said they paid $25,000 on the $250,000 bond to get him released. They said they don’t know if they’ll be able to pay if it’s raised at the hearing Monday.

Gann’s father said he doesn’t believe his son is guilty of murder and was afraid for his safety if he went to jail. He also said his son is not a gang member.

Police believe Delilah’s older brother was the target of the drive-by shooting and it was suspected retaliation for at least two other shootings, one of which was at Gann’s father’s house.


About the Author:

Garrett Brnger is a reporter with KSAT 12.