SAN ANTONIO — Two San Antonio police officers were shot and hospitalized after responding to a domestic disturbance call where the suspect threatened to set a home on fire, authorities said.
The officers had just arrived on the scene near Loop 1604 and Nacogdoches when one "was shot multiple times" by the suspect – later identified as 40-year-old Jesus Prado – who SAPD Chief William McManus said was firing a long gun from the second floor of the home. The second officer was shot once and managed to return to his vehicle, shield himself behind it, pull out his rifle and return fire.
Other law enforcement eventually arrived and were able to rescue both officers before the suspect eventually surrendered, McManus said.
Prado has been booked on two attempted capital murder charges, officials say. He was also charged with deadly conduct and arson by habitation. His bonds total $4 million.
The officers injured were identified the following Monday as Officer Nicolas Swain, who has been with the department for one and a half years, and Officer Santiago Vizcarra, who has been with the department seven years.
Video obtained by KENS 5 shows Prado appearing before a magistrate judge early Friday morning. Appearing before a magistrate, all he had to say was that he wanted a court-appointed attorney.
McManus categorized the officers' injuries as "serious" Thursday night, but on Friday officials said they were in stable conditions. This marks the 21st shooting involving SAPD uniformed personnel this year.
"The officers were very, very lucky they weren't killed," the chief added. "Officers don't know what they're going to encounter when they're out there, and officers' actions are predicated on the actions of the person that they're dealing (with)."
Neighbors told KENS 5 on Friday the home SAPD responded to was Prado's, and that his wife – who he is separated from – came to retrieve their two kids. That's when the situation escalated into dangerous terrain; police later said he "started to douse the house with gasoline, threatening to set it on fire."
Before police arrived, McManus said, the suspect arrived at the residence "to retrieve his children." An altercation ensued, and the suspect "started to douse the house with gasoline, threatening to set it on fire."
>WATCH: McManus' full update from the scene below
About 20 SAPD units could be seen overhead from Chopper 5 around 7:45 p.m. Witnesses described to KENS hearing at least 50 gunshots from along the 6200 block of Alta Puerta, where police eventually responded.
On Friday, McManus tweeted that all the officers were "heroes" that night, added a neighbor jumped to helped one of his injured officers.
'Started praying right there and then'
Neighbors who saw and heard what happened Thursday night were still reeling a day later from the shock of a violent ambush in their typically peaceful neighborhood.
Many expressed curiosity about what happened, but they were also united in their support of the two injured officers. Some visited the residential area Friday to get the latest information. All shared in their surprise while hoping the officers will recover swiftly.
“I counted at least 30 high-speed cops with their lights on, heading in the direction I was leaving," one man told KENS 5. "I told my kid, ‘This has to be an officer-involved shooting.’”
Other neighbors said through tears they had nothing but gratitude for the law enforcement who were hurt doing their job.
"I'm just grateful they're alive," the man said. "These cops are dropping what they're doing and racing to this scene, so I just started praying right there and then."
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