Burglary suspect wounded in West Side officer-involved shooting

A burglary suspect who shot at police was wounded by an officer who returned fire Thursday afternoon on the West Side.

At about 4:30 p.m., two officers responded to a report of a burglary near the intersection of Westfield and Westward Drive.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the male suspect was standing near a black SUV and immediately pulled out a gun as the police drove up in separate vehicles.

The 52-year-old suspect then began shooting at one officer’s vehicle as she was trying to reverse behind him, McManus said.

Her vehicle was hit about four times, blowing out a window, hitting a passenger seat, and the officer’s computer, which was mounted on the center console, police said.

“I don’t know how she was not hit,” McManus said.

The other officer got out of his vehicle and returned fire. The suspect was hit at least twice and taken to University Hospital, police said.

McManus did not immediately know the condition of the suspect.

“We were extremely lucky today not to have had an officer shot,” McManus said.

The officer who shot the suspect is four months out of the academy, McManus said. He is to be placed on administrative duty pending a review of the shooting by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

“He did a great job, I mean he did a hero’s job,” the chief said.

Officials said the officer who was shot at has been with the department for one year.

“She received some minor injuries, but she was not hit by gunfire,” he said.