Report: SA murder suspect tried hitching ride from crash before troopers shot, killed him

Adrian Hardeman, 37, was suspected of killing woman, taking toddler

SAN ANTONIO – A man troopers shot and killed earlier this month was sitting under a tree, armed with a gun he pointed at them, a report filed by the Texas Department of Public Safety says.

DPS filed a custodial death report with the Texas Attorney General's Office about the fatal June 5 shooting.

It makes no mention of the suspect, Adrian Hardeman, being wanted for the murder of the mother of his child in San Antonio.

That day, San Antonio police found April Russell, 34, dead inside her apartment around noon in the 2100 block of NE Loop 410 near Starcrest Drive.

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Police said Hardeman, 37, broke into the apartment through a window, shot Russell, then took her 1-year-old child. Police said Hardeman was trying to reconcile with Russell, but she wanted nothing to do with him.

The child was found about an hour later in the 4900 block of Wycliff Drive at a home of one of Hardeman's relatives.

The DPS report filed last week detailed its encounter with Hardeman.

It says about 3 p.m., it says Hardeman rolled his car on U.S. 90A and County Road 364 in Gonzales County. Troopers learned the driver walked away from the crash. One driver said Hardeman asked him for a ride, but "the civilian advised the driver that it was a company truck and he could not give him a ride."

That witness said Hardeman walked onto private property and was sitting under a tree by a farm shed. Troopers said Hardeman was at least 50 yards from US-90A. Two of them walked up to Hardeman and a sergeant drove 15 feet to Hardeman's right.

READ MORE: Vigil held for woman killed before baby taken

 

"When the troopers were about approximately 25 feet from (the) male sitting under the tree, the male suspect drew a black handgun and pointed it at the troopers who were approaching him," the report said. "The sergeant exited the car, (observed) the suspect pointing the firearm toward the approaching troopers and drew his service weapon. The troopers immediately reacted, drawing their service weapons and began discharging them at the suspect (while) ordering him to drop the gun."

The report says Hardeman was hit "numerous times" by the gunfire. He died at the scene. The troopers were not hurt.

The report states Hardeman did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It says he did not show any signs of mental health problems or make suicidal statements.

An autopsy on Hardeman is still pending.

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