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SAPD officer dies of gunshot wounds

Officer Miguel Moreno died at 11:11 a.m. Friday

SAN ANTONIOUpdated at 11:35 a.m.:

San Antonio Police Officer Miguel Moreno died Friday morning, police officials said.

Moreno passed away at 11:11 a.m. from injuries he sustained when he and Officer Julio Cavazos on Thursday contacted two suspects walking in the 200 block of West Evergreen Street.

As the officers exited the patrol car to contact the suspects, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and shot both officers, Police Chief William McManus said.

Moreno was shot in the head. Cavazos suffered a stomach wound, McManus said.

Cavazos is expected to survive, McManus said.

"We (lost) a truly, truly beautiful man, Officer Moreno," McManus said. "I'm at a loss for words to describe what kind of a tragedy this is. Two police officers gunned down for no reason."

Related: History of SAPD officers killed in line of duty

Moreno, a 2002 Lanier High School graduate, is the 55th San Antonio police officer killed in the line of duty. The last officer to die while protecting citizens was Det. Benjamin Marconi in November 2016.

Original story:

San Antonio police Chief William McManus addressed the media on Friday less than 24 hours after two SAPD officers were shot and critically wounded near downtown.

McManus identified the officers as Miguel Moreno and Julio Cavazos, both 9-year veterans of the department. Their ages have not been released, but McManus said they are both in their 30s.

RELATED: Witnesses shaken up after 2 officers wounded, suspect killed north of downtown

McManus said Moreno was shot in the head and, according to doctors, is not expected to survive his injuries.

Cavazos successfully completed surgery, but McManus said his condition could change and that the officer had more recovery ahead.  

The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon in the 200 block of West Evergreen Street, just north of downtown. 

The two officers were on directed patrol looking for criminal activity in the area when they crossed a vehicle that looked as if it had been broken into.  

The officers approached two men and one immediately opened fire on the officers.

McManus said Moreno went down and Cavazos, who was shot as well, pulled him out of the line of fire.

Cavazos returned fire and hit the shooter. The shooter ran to the corner and died at the scene. His name has not been released.

McManus said the other man with shooter is no longer a suspect in the shooting but was arrested on outstanding warrants and has since been released.  

McManus spoke Friday about how this shooting highlights the dangers of their job.

“Those officers were out there and they were working, and they were working hard," McManus said. “All they were going to do was contact these two individuals to get their identification and things went bad real quick." 

WATCH: Chief McManus' press conference with the latest update above or click right here.

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About the Author
RJ Marquez headshot

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.

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