SAN ANTONIO – A man who shot two San Antonio police officers is now in custody after barricading himself inside an apartment for hours, according to SAPD Chief William McManus.
The officers, who have not been identified, were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The suspect, identified by SAPD as 28-year-old Jesse Garcia, was holed up inside a West Side apartment near Highway 90 and Loop 410, McManus said at a press conference near the scene around 7 p.m. He was arrested just after 9 p.m. without incident.
Police said the suspect is expected to face new charges in addition to the warrants already out for his arrest. The new charges haven’t been released as of yet.
The suspect was described by SAPD as a “very violent” and “dangerous” person. McManus said he was armed with a “long gun.”
Officers urged people to stay away from Westward Drive and Westrock Drive on the West Side as they worked the scene.
The incident began around 5 p.m. after officers received a tip on the suspect’s whereabouts.
“He was out on two bonds and currently is wanted on three warrants, which is why we’re tracking him,” McManus said.
Shortly after the officers arrived, the suspect left the area and got into a vehicle that was being driven by another person, McManus said.
Officers tailed the vehicle, but when the suspect noticed them, he began shooting at the officers, according to McManus.
One officer was hit by the gunfire, McManus said.
An SAPD patrol vehicle crashed about a block away from the first crime scene, near the 100 block of Oriental.
According to an SAPD supervisor, two officers T-boned each other as the suspect ran toward them while armed.
A witness at the South Side scene, a few miles from downtown, told one of our crews that he heard around 20 gunshots coming from outside of his apartment.
He said he walked outside and saw three vehicles shooting at each other before a police officer pulled in. Moments later, all of the vehicles took off.
Chase continued west after first officer shot
The suspect and his driver continued driving as police chased them, according to McManus.
At some point during the chase, the pair carjacked another vehicle before heading West toward the Westwood apartments, the chief said.
The suspect fired more gunshots at another officer and hit him multiple times, McManus said.
The suspect then ran into an apartment unit, according to McManus.
At 7:30 p.m., CPS Energy posted on social media that they were cooperating with SAPD “to shut off power at the incident’s location. Please know this is NOT related to ERCOT’s conservation notice, nor is it grid-related.”
Both of the officers were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries. A third officer received an injury to his arm from debris caused by the gunfire. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and later released.
One of the officers has worked four years with SAPD and the other has been with the department for six years, McManus said.
This is a developing story and we’ll bring more updates as they become available.