SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a deputy fatally shot a 39-year-old man on the far West Side on Thursday morning.
BCSO Sheriff Javier Salazar said the shooting occurred near the intersection of Potranco Road and Sundance Crest, located outside Loop 1604.
The incident began when deputies received a call for a suspicious person, who an employee at a nearby store said was “scaring customers over the past couple of days,” the sheriff said in a news conference.
A deputy confronted the man, but the man drove away at a high rate of speed. The deputy initiated a pursuit, but the pursuit was later terminated, Salazar said.
The suspect was later seen driving “very erratically” in circles on Potranco Road, and the pursuit was re-engaged.
One deputy, an 8-year-veteran of the force, attempted to pull over the suspect and some type of struggle ensued, Salazar said.
At some point, the deputy shot the man once on his left side.
Video taken by a witness showed the suspect driving while the deputy was hanging off the vehicle. Salazar said it is unclear if that happened before or after shots were fired. It is unclear if the suspect had a weapon.
“We’re trying to reconcile the public video with our body camera video,” he said. “We do know that a deputy was dragged by the suspect vehicle at one time.”
Salazar said that once the suspect stopped the vehicle, he remained “violent” despite his gunshot wound.
The suspect continued to fight as first responders attempted to pack the wound, Salazar said. Paramedics were able to subdue him and place him in an ambulance.
The man was later pronounced dead. His identity was not released to the public, but Salazar said they believe they know who he is.
Salazar said they believe the suspect had contact with mental health units several times in recent weeks, and had been taken into custody and released.
“Why is he even out here if law enforcement has done what we’re supposed to do?” he asked.
The deputy will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Salazar said he’s worked on patrol for about five years.
KSAT has a crew at the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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