SAN ANTONIO – Two San Antonio police officers who were shot during a manhunt last week have been released from the hospital.
In an email on Monday, SAPD said the officers, who have not been identified, are recovering at home.
We are grateful to see the officers who were shot and critically injured last week leaving the hospital to continue their healing journey at home with family and friends! Help us show them how proud we are of their dedication and bravery 💙 pic.twitter.com/h1P5TIYffb
— San Antonio Police Officers' Association (@SAPOAssociation) August 29, 2023
They were injured on Thursday evening while trying to apprehend Jessie Garcia, Jr., 28, as he was wanted on outstanding warrants.
According to a preliminary report from SAPD, officers located him in the 100 block of Camelot Court on the Southwest Side at around 5 p.m.
They started following him as he rode in the passenger’s side of a blue Mitsubishi. As officers approached the car, it drove away and police started a pursuit.
When they reached the 100 block of Oriental Avenue just southwest of downtown, Garcia shot at the officers with a rifle.
A SWAT officer driving a patrol unit was struck, and a second officer in the passenger’s seat was injured by debris.
Shortly after, police say, Garcia and his driver exited the car. Garcia stole a vehicle at gunpoint, while his driver was detained, police said.
From there, Garcia headed west in the stolen vehicle and stopped in the 2600 block of Westward. There, he exited the vehicle and shot at officers before going to a unit at the Westwood Plaza Apartments and barricading himself.
Another officer was struck multiple times in that second round of gunfire.
All three injured officers were rushed to the hospital. The officer who was hit by debris was treated and released on Thursday.
After a standoff that lasted several hours, Garcia was taken into custody. He was charged with five counts of aggravated assault on a public servant, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of aggravated kidnapping.
The new charges against Garcia are in addition to those he faced before the shootings. He was booked into the Bexar County jail with bonds totaling about $4 million.
Watch below: KSAT explains Garcia’s criminal record stretching back to his teens
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