SAN ANTONIO – People at a West Side apartment complex where a San Antonio police officer shot and killed a man early Monday are disputing the officer’s account of what happened.
An officer shot and killed Ruben Garcia, 34, at the Winston Square Apartments, located in the 2500 block of S. General McMullen.
RELATED: Man shot, killed by SAPD officer during chase, struggle over gun, Chief McManus says
Chief William McManus spoke to news crews shortly after the shooting, telling them that the officer was patrolling the area when he noticed Garcia showing off a gun in his waistband.
“He attempted to stop that individual. He ran,” McManus said. “At some point during that chase, the officer attempted to Tase him.”
McManus told reporters the officers says the Taser weapon had no effect on Garcia, who then began struggling with him over the gun.
“And at some point during that struggle, the officer stepped back and shot the individual,” he said.
The police chief, however, emphasized that he had not reviewed the officer’s body worn camera yet, and that the investigation was ongoing.
People who live at the apartment complex, meanwhile, have already reached their own conclusions.
They say they do not like what they heard or saw.
“He didn’t pull out a gun at all. He was lying on the floor with his hands like that,” said Jesse Garcia, motioning that Ruben Garcia, who is not related, had his hands behind his back at the time.
Jesse Garcia said as he witnessed the shooting, he feared, at one point, that he also might be shot.
“(Officers) pointed the gun at us and we’re, like, ‘Hey, we’re coming ‘cause we heard a bunch of commotion!’,” he said.
Family members say they’re at a loss when it comes to understanding what happened.
“We just want to know why they did it. He wasn’t doing anything,” said Sabrina Carrion, the mother of five of Ruben Garcia’s seven children. “Basically, we have no hope now ‘cause he’s gone, especially me. He was everything.”
Carrion said the father of her children was a fierce protector of everyone around.
She admits that he made some mistakes in life that resulted in him spending time behind bars.
During the briefing with reporters, McManus also described Ruben Garcia as having a lengthy criminal history.
He said the officer who shot and killed him is a four-year veteran of SAPD. He has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.