SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Two San Antonio police officers were shot and injured on Wednesday morning after a confrontation with an armed suspect at a motel along Highway 90 near Military Drive. The suspect, who reportedly opened fire on officers during a brief chase, was killed in the exchange, according to San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus.
Authorities said the incident unfolded just before 9 a.m. when an officer and a cadet were sitting in a motel parking lot. While they were in their patrol vehicle, a man standing on the other side of a nearby fence began taunting them. The officer and cadet initially ignored the man’s remarks, but a woman who appeared to be associated with him called 911 shortly afterward. Police later learned that she was involved in the situation in some capacity, though her exact connection to the suspect has not yet been disclosed.
Moments later, another San Antonio police officer arrived on the opposite side of the parking lot to assist. As the officers began to observe the situation, the man started to walk away from the area. Chief McManus said the suspect suddenly turned and shouted, “I’m not going back to prison. I’m not going to jail.” He then began running and, while doing so, reached for his waistband.
According to McManus, the suspect pulled out a handgun and immediately began firing at the officers. The officers returned fire in self-defense, resulting in an exchange of gunfire in the motel parking lot. The suspect was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Three officers discharged their weapons during the confrontation, two of whom were injured and transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Chief McManus described the encounter as both intense and life-threatening, crediting the officers’ quick actions with preventing further loss of life. “We are very, very lucky,” McManus said. “As the suspect was pulling out that gun and shooting, one of the officers jumped on him. That decision may have saved lives.”
Authorities have not yet released the names of the officers or the deceased suspect pending formal identification and notification of next of kin. Police officials said the two injured officers are expected to recover, but their specific medical conditions were not immediately available.
The San Antonio Police Department has launched an internal investigation, which is standard procedure following any officer-involved shooting. The department’s Shooting Review Team and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office are both reviewing evidence from the scene, including surveillance footage and ballistic reports, to determine the exact sequence of events.
Chief McManus emphasized that this shooting reflects the unpredictable dangers officers face daily while serving the community. “These officers were doing their job, sitting in a parking lot, when a situation escalated within seconds,” he said. “Their actions were courageous under extreme pressure.”
The area around the motel remained closed for several hours as detectives processed the scene and collected evidence. The SPID and local law enforcement agencies urged the public to avoid the area while the investigation was ongoing.
As of Wednesday evening, officials confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public. The San Antonio Police Department expects to release additional details once the officers involved are interviewed and forensic examinations are completed.
This incident marks another reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face while responding to volatile situations. The department has called for patience as the investigation continues, assuring transparency and accountability as all findings are reviewed.
