SAN ANTONIO – Shooting a suspect is a life-or-death decision that San Antonio police policy only allows officers to make if someone’s life is in danger.
In 2024, 19 people were hit by bullets fired by San Antonio police as of December 24. Thirteen of them died, according to data from SAPD.
That number is down from last year, when SAPD shot 22 people.
Timeline of shootings in which SAPD officers shot people
Here’s a look back at the shootings involving SAPD in 2024 with details about what led up to them:
Jan. 9. - Jose Vazquez was shot by San Antonio SWAT officers outside a far West Side apartment complex, according to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. The chief said the 43-year-old former BCSO deputy was firing “many, many, many” rounds of gunfire into the walls of his apartment and outside his building.
Jan. 18 - An SAPD officer shot and killed a man after an altercation at a traffic stop on the South Side. McManus said the man refused to get out of his car.
Jan. 23 - John Garcia, 46, was shot by seven SAPD officers after ramming into a patrol unit and opening fire on an officer. According to a police report, officers were dispatched to a home for a welfare check after a person called in a tip that a woman had been killed. During a news conference at the scene, McManus said Garcia told the tipster that he killed his girlfriend.
Feb. 2 - SAPD shot a man who they say opened fire on officers responding to a family disturbance on the Southwest Side. Isaac Gutierrez, 35, is charged with aggravated assault against a public servant and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
March 1 - Two San Antonio police officers shot a 19-year-old man after they responded to a disturbance on the Northwest Side, according to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. Christopher Dahl, 19, is accused of raising a shotgun at the officers, police said.
April 21 - SAPD detectives were dispatched to a Northwest Side home to deliver an arrest warrant to a suspect identified as 42-year-old Sachin Sahoo. While Sahoo attempted to leave the scene, the department said Sahoo injured two officers with his vehicle. SAPD said an officer fired back, killing Sahoo.
Apri 28 - Mikey Valdez, 18, was killed by SAPD officers during a shooting at Historic Market Square during Fiesta. Two officers fired their weapons after two people began shooting at each other, SAPD said. Valdez had an extensive criminal record, five pending warrants, and was out on bond for three other charges, according to court records obtained by KSAT Investigates.
April 30 - San Antonio police shot and killed a 33-year-old man accused of firing at officers near the Northwest Side. SAPD said they believe Jaevel Boulding had killed his wife earlier in the day.
May 19 - Angel Cuevas, 21, was shot and killed by SAPD officers on the Northwest side. Officers were responding to an unrelated call when they discovered a stolen vehicle and parked behind it. When the officers returned to the parking lot, Cuevas entered the stolen vehicle and jumped a curb, driving toward the officers, according to SAPD.
June 4 - A San Antonio police officer shot and killed Robby Jay Hernandez, 19, after the officer saw him pointing a gun at a woman.
July 9 - Juan Antonio Hernandez, 52, was killed in a shootout with SWAT officers on the East Side, according to San Antonio police Chief William McManus. He was wanted on three warrants, police said.
July 28 - San Antonio police said one of its officers was shot, and 25-year-old George Jose Chacon-Gutierrez died after both exchanged gunfire on Patricia Drive on the city’s Northwest Side. SAPD said officers were responding to a domestic violence call.
Sept. 14 - Joseph Garcia, 22, was shot and killed in downtown after threatening officers, according to SAPD. The suspect, who SAPD identified as Joseph Garcia, 22, was wanted on three felony warrants. The felony warrants included possessing a firearm, continuous violence against the family, and aggravated promotion of prostitution.
Sept. 19 - Seven SAPD officers shot and killed Roberto Gonzalez after they said he pulled and pointed a gun at them. The agency said they were conducting surveillance on Gonzalez. While the officers had been watching Gonzalez, he robbed a convenience store, the report said. After watching surveillance video of the shooting, Gonzalez’s son told KSAT he wants SAPD to adopt better de-escalation policies.
Sept. 19 - Janelle Harris‚ 38, was shot by SAPD after they said she pointed a gun at officers on the Northwest Side. SAPD officers were called for a report of a woman walking around and waving a handgun. The department said the officers tried to talk to Harris, and she turned toward the officers and pointed the gun at them.
Dec. 3 - A San Antonio police officer shot and killed Jeffrey Schopp, 33, in a drainage ditch following a foot chase on the North Side, police said. Schopp pointed a gun at an assisting officer, police said.
Dec. 16 - Karen Martinez, 30, was shot by a San Antonio police officer after she made threats to herself and ran toward officers with a “knife-like object,” according to a preliminary report. However, an arrest affidavit states that Martinez was not found to have a knife or blade.
Dec. 24 - San Antonio police shot Damion Holmes, 19, near the Olmos H-E-B. McManus said a covert unit was tracking two men wanted for “violent offenses.” Holmes was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a December 9 shooting that left a man paralyzed, according to an affidavit.
Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.
