San Antonia, TX: Domestic abuse suspect shot by SWAT officer

By Valentino Lucio - Express-News
A San Antonio police officer shot a man armed with a handgun Thursday night when he rushed toward a SWAT unit at a motel room on the far West Side, officials said.

Authorities stormed a room at the Economy Inn in the 2400 block of Southwest Loop 410 around 8 p.m. looking for a man in his 30s wanted on two warrants, Police Chief William McManus said.

Authorities didn't immediately reveal the name of the man who was shot or the extent of his injuries. McManus said he was taken to a hospital and was in surgery.

McManus said an unidentified woman went to the police West substation to report that her common-law husband had kidnapped her. She told authorities that for the past four days her husband had taken her to several motel rooms and abused her, McManus said. The husband even threatened to “shoot her in the back of the head” if she attempted to escape and chipped her teeth when he shoved a gun into her mouth, the chief said.

The woman also told authorities her husband was wanted on two warrants — for family violence (choking) and violation of a protective order.

The woman was able to escape in a car, but her condition and whereabouts were not disclosed.

Police called the SWAT unit, which made the scene to find the man inside a room. McManus said when police entered the room, the man rushed toward officers and that's when one SWAT member fired several rounds, hitting the suspect.

“The events leading up to the situation were horrifying for this woman,” McManus said. “It's a dangerous situation the officers were involved in.”

The man did not fire any shots at officers and no one else was injured, police said.

The officer, David Larios, a nine-year veteran of the department, was placed on administrative duty, officials said.

McManus said the man had a history of family violence. The most recent case was in December when the husband assaulted the woman, he said. McManus said the man “split her head open” and she required more than 20 staples in her skull.

The man could face several charges, including kidnapping, unlawful restraint and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, McManus said.

The incident was the third officer-involved shooting this year and the second this month. In the first incident, undercover officers shot and killed Santos Sanchez on Jan. 13 in the parking lot of the Mayan Theater during a failed ransom exchange.

The second happened Feb. 4 when a detective shot and killed Danny A. Thomas, 24, after he failed to “get down and show his hands” during a raid at the Park at Ventana Apartment Homes in the 3900 block of Barrington Street.