SAN ANTONIO — As darkness turned to daylight downtown Thursday, a brutal murder was recorded by the unblinking eye of a nearby surveillance camera.
Police and neighbors said the man who died was a regular at a non-profit shelter across the street that serves the homeless.
The Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) is sharing the video and hoping it leads to clues for police.
The gray video clearly shows two men interacting with each other on Nolan Street under I 37.
Police said the shots rang out around 6:30 a.m. and the victim appeared to suffer a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Police said the gunman ran east on Nolan after the attack and they haven’t found him.
At CAM they call what appears to be an unprovoked shooting heartbreaking because they know the man who was murdered.
“This is an individual that was known to CAM because they are experiencing homelessness. And they may have come to get a sack lunch or take a shower at our location but it was someone who was experiencing chronic homelessness that we knew in this area,” said CAM’s Dawn White-Fosdick.
She said the victim, who police said was in his 30s, was well-regarded.
“This was an individual who was kind-hearted. One of my staff members said 'I know he loved God!'"
The loss, White-Fosdick said, is hard to bear, “When a death occurs, it's very tragic. For many of those we serve, these individuals are family to them and at CAM our staff members get to know individuals. We wish the best for them and so when something like this occurs it's very traumatic.”
White-Fosdick said CAM clients, who come for help with basic comforts, are especially vulnerable.
"Living your life outside and on the streets can put someone in very precarious situations," she added.
At CAM they said from heartache to hope, they want their friends on the street to use this loss as motivation to get out of danger.
"These things are tragic but it gives us a chance to say for your safety and well-being maybe you can let us help you today," White-Fosdick said, adding they know the identity of the victim but they are withholding it to allow the police investigation to move forward.
Usually at times like this, the ministry hosts a memorial service, but now they said it's just too soon to say what they will do to honor their friend.
To learn more about the organization that offers a variety of services to the needy, visit the Christian Assistance Ministry website: https://christianassistanceministry.org/