Landlord’s boyfriend arrested in connection with fatal tenant dispute

A man killed his girlfriend’s tenant in an argument over an eviction case last month, San Antonio police said.

David Beck, 41, was shot and killed on Dec. 14 in the 1000 block of West Huisache Avenue. On Tuesday, SAPD arrested Shawn Pivonka, 37, for his murder.

SAPD spokesman Sgt. Washington Moscoso said Pivonka is the boyfriend of Beck’s landlord and had been part of an argument outside of Beck’s home in which both men pulled out guns.

Pivonka’s girlfriend had been trying to evict Beck, but he won an appeal, which he planned to show to the landlord that morning, Moscoso said. Bexar County court records confirm Beck was part of two ongoing legal disputes regarding an eviction.

“The landlord obviously was upset about it. The landlord’s boyfriend got in the mix,” Moscoso said.

Pivonka swung a fist at Beck, stopping inches before his face because Beck pulled back, Moscoso said. Beck drew his gun “in a defensive manner” while Pivonka then drew his own weapon “in an offensive manner,” shooting and killing Beck.

After the shooting, Pivonka stayed at the scene. Police didn’t arrest him at first as they investigated whether it was self-defense.

However, cellphone and surveillance video from the scene helped to determine that was not the case, SAPD said.

Moscoso said that because some of the footage was obstructed, it delayed the time for a warrant to be filed.

Once investigators gathered their evidence, a warrant was issued for Pivonka’s arrest on Dec. 20. He was arrested Tuesday morning without incident.

When asked if Pivonka displayed intent, Moscoso said the evidence was enough to warrant a conviction.

“There was enough evidence to merit the charge of murder,” Mocoso said.

Police said that Pivonka does not have a criminal history.

Beck’s widow, Olivia Beck, said she had been advised not to speak about the case. However, she told KSAT over the phone that Beck had been a bartender downtown.

David Beck had a 4-year-old daughter, she said, and the couple have another child on the way.

You can listen to the press conference with police in the video player below: