SAN ANTONIO — A man was shot and killed by police after he tried to take a gun away from a park police officer Sunday morning on the west side, according to SAPD Chief William McManus.
The incident occurred on the 3400 block of Buena Vista Street around 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
Chief McManus said a call for a disturbance came between a man, later identified as 27-year-old Ray Garcia, and a woman who are reportedly a couple and were at the park.
When officers arrived, Garcia ran and jumped into a backyard of a nearby neighborhood. When an officer identified as Mark DeLaCruz, caught up to him a struggle began while trying to arrest him, SAPD said.
Chief McManus said a second officer, identified as Juan Cardona, came to assist. The two officers tried to tase Garcia, but were unsuccessful. Authorities say Garcia then tried to take a gun from DeLaCruz, which is when Cardona shot and killed him, according to McManus.
Officials said Garcia was wanted on four warrants.
DeLaCruz has nine years of service as a police officer and Cardona has 14 years of service.
The president of the San Antonio Park Police Officers Association (SAPPOA) released a statement on the shooting, calling on local leaders to make changes that take criminals off the streets.
"This morning our Park Police officer encountered a worst-case scenario and had to draw and use their weapon to defend a fellow officer in a life and death struggle with a criminal," said SAPPOA President Henry Bassuk. "A man, with several outstanding warrants, was shot and killed on site. Sadly, this is no longer a unique situation in San Antonio. Time and time again we see criminals with multiple warrants consistently committing crimes and endangering the lives of citizens and law enforcement. It's well past time our City and County leaders, specifically District Attorney Joe Gonzales, step up and end this cycle of law breaking, bail, warrants, and more law breaking. Criminals belong in jail."