Sheriff reports on progress of mobile operation, virus numbers at jail

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said East Bexar County residents can expect to see a “flurry of activity” from deputies as they continue to hunt for suspects in recent shootings and document gang members in the area.

The sheriff’s Friday progress report included the number of novel coronavirus cases at the jail.

Since Thursday, 30 inmates have recovered from COVID-19 , bringing the number of inmates testing positive to 96.

Salazar said 85 of the inmates with the virus are asymptomatic.

“We’re doing the right thing to continue to get these folks get through the illness,” Salazar said from inside BCSO’s mobile command center setup near Walzem and Gibbs Sprawl roads.

Out of 200 inmates tested in last couple of days, only four were positive.

According to Salazar, 23 deputies are showing signs of the virus and 46 deputies have recovered and returned to work.

There are still 248 inmates awaiting transfer to the Texas Department of Corrections when that operation resumes, he added.

Salazar said deputies arrested Dajuon Shykief Wannamaker, 23, who is accused of shooting at a home in the 8700 block of Glen Mont Drive on May 12.

Wannamaker went to the home looking for someone the current residents said no longer lived there, Salazar said.

He then went to his 1995 Toyota Camry and fired several shots at the home before driving away, investigators said. No one was injured.

Deputies arrested him Friday at 9511 Perrin Beitel and he has since been charged with deadly conduct with a firearm.

Salazar said they recovered the weapon used in the shooting.

Wannamaker was the second suspect arrested since the operation began.

The first suspect arrested Tuesday was Taron Larry Bowie, 23, accused of shooting two men on May 13 after they met up with him to buy an Xbox in the 6600 block of Lake View Drive.

Salazar said deputies are also investigating a drive-by shooting at a cemetery Thursday in the 7600 block of Gibbs Sprawl.

At least two suspects fired shots at about two dozen mourners, investigators said.

The mourners told investigators that the same thing happened last year.

“Sure enough, yesterday was the decedent’s birthday and it was known that (family) were going to be there celebrating his life and these people took it as an opportunity to go out and intimidate folks,” Salazar said.

The shooting was gang-related, he said.

Salazar reported that deputies have recovered high-powered weapons during traffic stops in the area over the past several days.

“It’s an issue out here, but we’re not going anywhere until we cool it off a bit,” Salazar said.

Deputies are still looking for suspects suspects in other shootings, including another drive-by that occurred May 15 in the 6600 block of Steep Drive. No one was injured in that shooting.

Salazar said he hopes several other law enforcement agencies will be joining the operation and said announcements would be made over the next several days.

Salazar said anyone with information in these incidents may call the sheriff’s office at 210-335-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867.