SAN ANTONIO – A funeral procession and honor escort took place Monday for fallen Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy Timothy De La Fuente, who died from complications possibly connected to COVID-19 last week.
The 53-year-old deputy tested positive for the virus Thursday and died the same day. He is the first deputy in the department to possibly die of the virus, according to a previous KSAT report.
His sister, Melinda De La Fuente, told KSAT 12 News that the family has not been told any other details on his death.
“He didn’t even know. So sudden, was not expecting that. We knew he was in a dangerous place but I really didn’t expect that to go that quickly,” said Melinda De La Fuente, referring to her younger brother’s brief illness.
She added that he was the youngest of three siblings.
The body of Deputy Timothy De La Fuente has just arrived at Mission Park South #KSATnews pic.twitter.com/KBOqxi0SoH
— Dillon Collier (@dilloncollier) May 4, 2020
Deputy De La Fuente and his sisters lost both his parents a few weeks apart earlier this year, a family member said on Monday.
Funeral arrangements for Deputy De La Fuente are still pending at this time, a BCSO spokesman said Monday afternoon.
On Monday morning, law enforcement gathered at the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, where they escorted Deputy De La Fuente to Mission Park South Funeral Home on Southeast Military Drive.
Bexar County sheriff: 27-year deputy who was found dead tested positive for COVID-19
The current patrol and detention classes at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Training Academy lined the private drive at Mission Park Funeral Chapel South to salute and honor Deputy De La Fuente. District 7 Fire Rescue also had two fire engines draping a U.S. flag on the eastbound lanes of Military Drive near the entrance of the funeral home.
“This honor that they gave him was overwhelming. It was very nice,” said Melinda De La Fuente.