SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Police Department Officer Julio Cavazos is still recovering from the gunshot wound he sustained in a shootout with 34-year-old Andrew Bice.
Cavazos and his partner, SAPD Officer Miguel Moreno, were on a directed patrol investigating car burglaries last Thursday when they saw two men walking in the 200 block of West Evergreen Street, just north of downtown San Antonio.
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RELATED ON KSAT.COM: SAPD Officer Julio Cavazos' condition upgraded to 'good'
As the officers got out of their patrol vehicle and approached the two men, Bice shot both officers, killing Moreno, a nine-year veteran, and wounding Cavazos in the chin.
Despite being wounded, Cavazos, also a nine-year veteran, was able to pull Moreno out of the line of fire and shoot back at Bice, hitting him once in the buttocks.
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Responding officers apprehended the second man, identified as 30-year-old William Lawson. He was later released, but then soon re-arrested on unrelated warrants.
Bice’s death was later ruled by the medical examiner as a suicide.
Shortly after the shooting, both officers were transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center where it was learned Moreno, 32, died at 11:11 a.m. Friday.
RELATED ON KSAT.COM: Funeral for slain SAPD Officer Miguel Moreno set for Friday morning
Cavazos, 36, was at the time admitted in critical condition.
Here’s what we know about Cavazos now:
-- Cavazos' condition upgraded to “good”
On Monday, SAMMC said Cavazos was in “good” as he recovers from the gunshot wound he received in the Thursday shootout.
Cavazos’ wife said she wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and support, the SAPD said.
On Saturday, a police spokesman said Cavazos has a long recovery ahead of him.
-- Cavazos is CrossFit member at local gym
According to the CrossFit Born Ready Facebook page, Cavazos is a member of its gym program.
The gym has dedicated workouts to fallen San Antonio Fire Department Scott Deem and SAPD Detective Benjamin Marconi.
In a Facebook post, the gym shared, “#cfbrfamily If you like to help one of our own, please consider helping this way. #thinblueline.”
-- Cavazos and Moreno were assigned to same SAPD substation
On Friday, SAPD Chief William McManus said Cavazos and Moreno were both assigned to Central Substation and working Central Patrol B Shift.
McManus said the two officers have served the Police Department since 2008.
-- Cavazos’ daughter celebrated her sixth birthday a day after he was shot
On Friday, members of the San Antonio community rallied behind Cavazos by flooding his police substation with a stream of gifts after the SAPD announced it was holding a toy drive for Cavazos’ daughter.
The SAPD said it had received a countless number of gifts for Cavazos’ daughter, who turned 6 Friday – a day after the shooting.
The Police Department said it has “no doubts that all the love and well wishes helped him (Cavazos) in his recovery” and was “humbled but not surprised” by the amount of support they received at the Central Substation.
-- Cavazos graduated from Lanier High School
According to Lanier High School Principal Laura B. Cooper's Twitter page, Cavazos graduated from the school in 1999.
Lanier High School prays for the recovery of Officer Julio Cavazos, Class of 1999. Please keep him in your thoughts & prayers.
— Principal Cooper (@LHSVoks) June 30, 2017
In a tweet, Cooper shared, “Lanier High School prays for the recovery of Officer Julio Cavazos, Class of 1999. Please keep him in your thoughts & prayers.”
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Lanier head football Coach Don Gaitan said both Moreno and Cavazos had been linemen on the team.
RELATED ON KSAT.COM: Former classmate, coach honor fallen Officer Miguel Moreno
Continuing coverage:
SAPD officer dies of gunshot wounds
McManus: Man with alleged cop killer during shootout 'seems to be a pathological liar'
SAPD provides update on wounded Officer Julio Cavazos
SAPD holding toy drive for injured officer's daughter
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