Man indicted for fatally shooting pregnant woman in front of her 2 children in San Antonio motel room

Dillon Meckel charged with capital murder of multiple persons

Dillon Meckel, 35, has been charged with capital murder. (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – A man accused of fatally shooting a pregnant woman in front of her two children in a San Antonio motel room has been formally charged with capital murder of multiple persons.

The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday that Dillon Leigh Meckel, 35, was indicted by a grand jury for the death of Laura Placker, 37, and her unborn child.

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The indictment alleges that on June 19, Meckel “intentionally and knowingly” caused Placker’s death by fatally shooting her, and in doing so, also killed her unborn child.

The incident happened at a Motel 6 in the 7500 block of Louis Pasteur, not far from Floyd Curl Drive.

When police arrived at the scene, Meckel had admitted to shooting Placker. The victim was shot in the head, and although authorities performed lifesaving measures, they were unsuccessful. Placker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her two children, ages four and six, were inside the motel room when the shooting happened, according to police. They were taken in by CPS, who helped arrange care for them.

Meckel is now awaiting trial and arraignment, both set for Sept. 3, according to court records. If convicted, capital murder is punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

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