SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is asking the community for help finding a gunman who fired shots at a far-west-side party early Sunday morning, killing a teenager.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said deputies responded to reports of at least 20 shots fired in and around a vacant home in the 3900 block of Rock Mill Dam – in the area of Highway 90 an highway 211 – around 1 a.m. Partygoers scattered as deputies pulled up, Salazar said, and they eventually found 17-year-old Landyn Reyes dead in the backyard from gunshot wounds.
Landyn was to turn 18 in the coming weeks, the sheriff said.
BCSO is still working to determine who the shooter was, and Salazar didn't rule out the possibility that he was shot by accident at a party where it's believed firearms were present. He added there were well over 100 people in attendance, and deputies found "plenty of shell casings" at the scene.
"Investigators say it had blue tape, indicating someone was just about to move in," Salazar added.
BCSO is urging anyone who knows what happened to call authorities at (210) 335-6000. Those who provide tips can remain anonymous.
Salazar says this act of violence is part of a growing trend where young people are utilizing vacant, newly built homes for parties often involving narcotics and firearms, calling it a "recipe for disaster."
Catherine Morales lives directly across the street from the home where the shooting took place. She said she woke up to several gunshots and teens running to safety.
“We saw, not exaggerating, hundreds of teenagers coming out of this house and so many cars on this road," Morales said. "I don’t know how any of these neighbors would be able to even drive down the road.”
She is concerned to learn about the trend, given that her community is still very much under construction. She said that same home was used for a house party the weekend prior.
"There have been two parties, two weekends in a row," she said. "I think something need to be done."
The sheriff encourages the community and home builders to remain vigilant and report any similar activity at vacant homes.
KENS 5 was told by spokesperson for Lennar Homes, the community's homebuilder, that they will not comment while the investigation is ongoing. KENS 5 also reached out to the homeowners association but have not heard back.
Salazar says BCSO will continue to investigate Landyn’s murder, adding the agency plans to announce a new portal allowing community members to send in video and drive new leads.
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