SAN ANTONIO — A man is in custody after he allegedly robbed a woman at gunpoint, leading to a chase involving San Antonio Police officers.
It started in the 3600 block of Culebra Road, where the 18-year-old man identified by police as Jose Ricarte allegedly was attempting to burglarize cars in the parking lot.
When the woman came outside to try to stop him, police said Ricarte then pointed a gun at her and took her purse before fleeing in a car.
Local business owner Matthew Smith says an armed robbery is no surprise in the Loma Park Shopping Plaza.
“Crime should not be so prevalent at 9 am, 8 am, it should be on your way to school on your way to work to make a buck," he said. "Not be victimized before your breakfast tacos in the morning.”
Nearby police officers pursued Ricarte's vehicle. They said the chase proceeded to the highway and reached high speeds. At one point, Ricarte is accused of pointing his gun out the window at the officers.
Ricarte eventually crashed his vehicle in the 1800 block of West Mayfield Blvd., then fled on foot before being captured by officers.
Ricarte was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, evading arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm.
This is not the first crime Smith has witnessed in Loma Park, and he’s afraid it’s not the last.
“Who is left to care for our elderly over here - there’s not many," he said. "We do look out for everybody in the neighborhood a lot. It’s important that they know that they’re safe here. We could use a lot more help in this neighborhood, absolutely.”
