Man charged with murder in wrong-way crash was fugitive in attempted capital murder of Bexar County deputy, DA says

Joseph William Woolard, 36, has been wanted in Bexar County since February, DA says

Joseph William Woolard, 36, has been charged with murder and evading arrest following a fatal car crash on Sunday, May 3, 2020, booking records show. This mugshot is from a previous arrest. (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – A man accused of murder following a wrong-way crash was also wanted on charges stemming from an officer-involved shooting in 2019, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s office.

Joseph William Woolard, 36, was charged with murder following the wreck that killed Asante Sebastian Contreras, 20, Sunday night.

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According to San Antonio police, Woolard was evading officers when he drove his vehicle the wrong way onto a northbound ramp connecting Loop 410 and I-35. He crashed head-on into a car carrying Contreras, who died at the scene.

SAPD: Man, 36, arrested on murder charge after fatal head-on crash during officer pursuit

The fatal wreck occurred a year after Woolard was arrested for the attempted capital murder of a peace officer.

In March 2019, Woolard engaged in a shootout with a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy at the Blazing Star RV Resort in the 1100 block of W. Loop 1604, Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time.

The deputy tried to pull him over when Woolard bailed from his vehicle, ran to the RV park, pulled out a shotgun and began firing at the deputy, Salazar said. The deputy was not injured.

Suspect ID’d in deputy-involved shooting at RV park on far West Side

On Wednesday, District Attorney Joe Gonzales told KSAT 12 News that Woolard has been under indictment on four separate felony charges from the shooting.

He has been a fugitive since Feb. 27 on bond violation warrants, Gonzales said.

Gonzales released the following statement:

Since 2009, Woolard has been previously arrested on charges of possession, assault, evading arrest and driving while intoxicated.

At the time of the shooting, Salazar described Woolard as “dangerous” and a “career criminal."


About the Author:

Rebecca Salinas is an award-winning digital journalist who joined KSAT in 2019. She reports on a variety of topics for KSAT 12 News.