SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio Police officer was involved in a shooting for the third time in less than a week, leaving a man dead.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus says an officer shot and killed a man who had a gun following a chase and struggle. It unfolded around 2 a.m. Monday at an apartment complex on General McMullen and Roselawn, on the southwest side of town.
McManus says the officer was on patrol at the Winston Square Apartments when he came across the armed man, 34-year-old Ruben Garcia, who had the firearm in his waistband.
Garcia was allegedly showing it off to another person at the complex. McManus says that when the officer tried to stop him, he ran off, with the officer in pursuit.
“At some point during that chase the officer attempted to Tase him, with no effect," McManus said at the scene. "They struggled over that gun during the Tasing attempt, and at some point during that struggle, the officer stepped back and shot the individual. That’s what we have right now.”
The police chief says Garcia has an extensive criminal history. Online records show 22 previous arrests for Garcia, going all the way back to 2007. His latest arrest was on Oct. 4 for drug possession. There's another case pending from June, when he was charged with resisting arrest. He was out on bond for both those charges.
But there are numerous other cases that were dismissed over the years for various reasons. Records also indicate Garcia has served time for drug and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges.
Still, friends and family at the scene spoke fondly of him and said they regret how he died.
"One guy told me they shot Ruben and I came over here and he was on the floor and he was handcuffed still and they shot him four or five times and he died," said Jerry Rodriguez, a friend of Garcia's.
Rodriguez said he did not witness the fatal confrontation, but hopes the video is shown to the public soon. SAPD's policy on officer-involved shootings is to try to release body camera footage within 30 days.
“It is pretty common for witnesses who are associated with somebody who has been shot to tell a different story. One thing we have seen in the last decade is that body cams really are very helpful to get the bottom of what happened," said Jason Goss, a defense attorney who has represented law enforcement.
The officer who shot Garcia wasn't hurt, but has been placed on administrative duty during the investigation, per SAPD policy.
“They are still working police work, but they’re not out on the street," Goss said.
He has been identified as Officer John Carroll and has been with SAPD for four years.
“They really have to make sure everything is okay psychologically and make sure the officer’s cleared before they get back out on the street," Goss said.
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