A San Antonio police officer shot a man who reached for a gun during a physical struggle following a traffic stop late Tuesday night, according to SAPD acting Chief Jesse Salame.
The shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. near South San Gabriel Avenue and Buena Vista Street.
In a news conference, Salame said two officers were on patrol when they attempted to stop a vehicle at Historic Old Highway 90 West and West Commerce Street on the West Side.
The driver did not stop, Salame said, and officers followed the vehicle until they caught up to it near the intersection of South San Gabriel Avenue and Buena Vista Street.
One officer got out of the patrol vehicle and began talking to the driver of the suspect vehicle.
The passenger, who police believe is an 18-year-old man, then got out of the suspect vehicle and ran toward the patrol car. An officer who was in the passenger seat confronted him, Salame said.
“At that point, it was reportedly a physical confrontation that ensued, and the officer reported that the suspect had a gun and was reaching for the gun,” Salame said.
The officer and the man began tussling on the ground. Salame said the officer was able to break away and fired multiple shots at the man.
The wounded man ran about a block from the scene before officers found him in an abandoned lot, according to police. A gun was found nearby.
He was taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds in critical condition.
The driver of the vehicle walked away from the scene and had not been located as of early Wednesday, Salame said.
SAPD has not released the identities of the officers or the wounded man.
The officer who fired shots has been with SAPD for seven years and will be placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.
According to the City of San Antonio, this marks the 10th shooting involving San Antonio police officers this year.
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