A San Antonio Park Police officer shot and killed a man after he tried to grab another officer’s gun during a struggle on the West Side, according to SAPD Chief William McManus.
The shooting happened in the 3400 block of Buena Vista near Elmendorf Lake Park, not far from Our Lady of the Lake University.
The man who died is in his late 20s, and the two officers involved were not injured, McManus said.
WATCH BELOW: SAPD Chief McManus provides initial details after officer shoots, kills man on West Side
Officers were first dispatched to the park for a report of a disturbance between a couple.
When the first officer arrived, a man took off from the scene and jumped into the backyard of a nearby house, McManus said.
As the officer caught up to the man and attempted to arrest him, the two struggled, McManus said.
A second officer arrived and attempted to deploy a stun gun on the man, but it was unsuccessful, he said.
During the struggle, McManus said the man attempted to take the officer’s gun from him, at which point the officer called out to his partner.
The second officer shot the man and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to McManus.
The man had four outstanding warrants, at least one of which was for allegedly trying to take an officer’s gun in a separate incident, McManus said.
Neither officer or the man has been identified.
McManus said the information he has is preliminary and subject to change.
On Sunday afternoon, Henry Bassuk, the president of the Park Police Officers Association, released the following statement:
“This morning our Park Police officer encountered a worst-case scenario and had to draw and use their weapon to defend a fellow officer in a life and death struggle with a criminal. A man, with several outstanding warrants, was shot and killed on site. Sadly, this is no longer a unique situation in San Antonio. Time and time again we see criminals with multiple warrants consistently committing crimes and endangering the lives of citizens and law enforcement. It’s well past time our City and County leaders, specifically District Attorney Joe Gonzales, step up and end this cycle of law breaking, bail, warrants, and more law breaking. Criminals belong in jail.
We are grateful for the training and knowledge of our Park Police team and for this officer who followed procedure and saved a fellow law enforcement officer. Park Police are working across our community, side by side with SAPD, to protect our City and we are grateful for their swift action today!”