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Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting at downtown San Antonio apartment complex

Daniel Gonzalez, 35, charged with murder; SAPD believes he may be involved in second homicide at Victoria Plaza

Daniel Gonzalez was charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting at Victoria Plaza in the 400 block of Barrera on Oct. 4. (Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police have arrested a man in connection with a shooting death at a downtown San Antonio apartment complex.

Daniel Gonzalez, 35, has been charged with murder for a fatal shooting on Friday at Victoria Plaza in the 400 block of Barrera, a few blocks south of the Tower of the Americas. He was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.

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According to county court records, Gonzalez, a prior felon, is also facing an unlawful firearm possession charge. The illegal firearm charge is considered a felony.

Police were called to the complex on Friday for a call about a dead man inside a unit.

Donnell Sterling was identified by family members as the man who was found dead in a downtown apartment complex. Courtesy photos (Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

Family members identified the victim as Donnell Sterling, 52, a father of four. Gonzalez’s arrest warrant, obtained by KSAT on Wednesday, confirmed Sterling’s identity.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office told KSAT that Sterling died from a gunshot wound to the head.

It’s not clear how long Sterling may have been dead. A neighbor told police they last saw Sterling around sunset on Sept. 29.

According to his arrest warrant, Gonzalez was set to be interviewed regarding a separate case at the apartment complex.

Three days earlier, SAPD found the body of Nick Martinez, 59, inside a unit a few doors from where Sterling lived. Authorities believe Gonzalez may be connected to Martinez’s death.

Martinez’s death was ruled a homicide and his manner of death was sharp force injury.

Before Gonzalez was set to be interviewed by police as a person of interest in Martinez’s death on Oct. 3, authorities said he unlawfully possessed a handgun.

Gonzalez was arrested and booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on the unlawful weapon possession charge.

On Oct. 4, the SAPD officer assigned to Sterling’s case requested an analysis from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network comparing Gonzalez’s weapon and shell casings found in connection with Sterling’s shooting death.

According to the arrest affidavit, the officer said surveillance video from the apartment complex showed Gonzalez exiting an elevator on Sterling’s floor and walking through a hallway that led to Sterling’s apartment on Sept. 29 and in the overnight hours of Sept. 30.

Through the NIBIN’s analysis, the officer said the shell casings found at the scene of Sterling’s death matched the gun in Gonzalez’s possession, the affidavit stated.

During an Oct. 5 interview, the officer said they interviewed Gonzalez, who was already in custody, about Sterling’s death. According to the affidavit, Gonzalez admitted to knowing Sterling and visiting his apartment multiple times.

However, Gonzalez told police he had no involvement in Sterling’s death, authorities said.

SAPD is still investigating both cases.

More coverage of this story on KSAT:


About the Authors
Halee Powers headshot

Halee Powers is a KSAT producer primarily focused on digital newscasts and events.

Pachatta Pope headshot

Pachatta Pope joined KSAT as a news producer in 2021. She is a San Antonio native and a graduate of UTSA.

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