“San Antonio Police Shootings in 2023: 14 Dead, 22 Injured – A Detailed Timeline”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) faced heightened scrutiny in 2023 as the number of deadly shootings by officers increased significantly compared to the previous year. Data obtained from SAPD by KSAT revealed that 22 people were hit by bullets fired by San Antonio police in 2023, resulting in 14 fatalities. This is nearly three times the number of deadly SAPD shootings in 2022, when only 5 people were killed by officers’ gunfire.

In addition to the increase in deadly shootings, there was also a surge in gunfire aimed at officers. At least eight officers were shot in 2023, with five of them being shot by suspects they were pursuing. Another officer accidentally shot himself during a pursuit. These incidents occurred within a span of two weeks during the summer, raising concerns about the safety of law enforcement in the city.

The shootings prompted a heated debate between Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, with both officials blaming each other for the shootings. Elected leaders also weighed in on how to address the violence, emphasizing the need for reforms and improved training for officers.

To provide a comprehensive overview of the incidents, a map was created to visualize the locations where SAPD officers either shot someone or were shot themselves. It is important to note that the data only includes incidents involving SAPD and does not encompass those involving the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

The article then proceeds to provide a timeline of the shootings involving SAPD in 2023, highlighting the circumstances leading up to each incident:

– On January 5, Jose Luis Iruegas was shot by San Antonio police officers during a disturbance at a West Side motel. He passed away weeks later after being removed from life support by his family.
– On January 24, Eric Nandin was shot and killed by police in a Motel 6 parking lot on the West Side. Chief McManus stated that an SAPD Street Crimes officer tried to handcuff Nandin, who resisted and grabbed a gun from his waistband, firing two shots.
– On March 14, a 41-year-old man with a felony warrant for domestic violence was shot by San Antonio police after leading them on a chase through the Southeast Side. SAPD reported that the man pointed a gun at officers.
– On March 28, Paul Palafox died three days after a shootout with San Antonio police officers on the East Side. Palafox fired 26 rounds with an AR-15 toward the officers, who returned fire.
– These are just a few examples of the incidents that occurred throughout the year.

The article concludes by noting that three San Antonio police officers were indicted in December 2023 in connection with the shooting death of Melissa Perez, a woman who was experiencing a mental episode. The officers were charged with not following department training or policy and using unreasonable deadly force. They are set to be arraigned in January 2024.

The series of shootings in 2023 has raised concerns about police use of force in San Antonio. Advocates for reform are calling for increased accountability, better training, and stricter policies to prevent unnecessary loss of life in encounters between law enforcement and the public. The ongoing dialogue and investigations surrounding these incidents will likely continue to shape the future of policing in San Antonio..