The trial of three former SAPD officers in the shooting death of Melissa Perez continues as the defense calls its witnesses.
SAN ANTONIO — The trial for three former San Antonio police officers charged in the 2023 death of Melissa Perez has now entered its 20th day, marking nearly a month of testimony in a case that continues to stir debate over use of force and accountability.
Perez, 46, was shot and killed during a mental health call at her south-side apartment after authorities say she came at officers with a hammer. Former officers Alfred Flores and Eleazar Alejandro are charged with murder, while Nathaniel Villalobos faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Throughout the past four weeks, jurors have heard from dozens of witnesses, including police officers, investigators, and experts. This week, testimony centered on what happened in the moments before the shooting and whether the officers followed proper procedure.
SAPD Officer Travis Thompson, who responded to the scene that night, told the court he was in the same patrol unit as Villalobos. He testified that they were answering a call for an “officer in trouble” after another officer had reportedly been hit by glass. The defense played body camera video showing Perez moving around inside her apartment as officers discussed how to safely arrest her.
Earlier in the week, retired Sgt. Lisa Miller, a nearly 30-year SAPD veteran, took the stand for the defense. She said she spent hundreds of hours reviewing the case and believes the lead investigator, Detective Ronald Soto, rushed to judgment when he secured arrest warrants just 16 hours after the shooting.
Miller also testified that she spoke with a police sergeant who had met with Chief William McManus to tell the chief he believed the three officers were justified in the shooting. She said the sergeant told her he was instructed to stay quiet or face consequences.
That statement directly contradicts Detective Soto’s earlier testimony, in which he maintained he was under no pressure from department leadership or the district attorney’s office when pursuing the charges.
The trial is expected to continue early next week as both sides move closer to closing arguments.
Background on the case
This week marks of the fourth week of testimony in this trial. The defense is expected to call more witnesses Thursday when court resumes at 10:30 a.m.
The trial remains ongoing as jurors weigh whether the defendants were justified in their use of deadly force.
It was early in the morning of June 23, 2023, when authorities say Perez tampered with her complex’s fire alarm system, triggering a police response.
Later that morning, Flores, Alejandro and Villalobos fatally shot at Perez when authorities said she came at them with a hammer. Before 24 hours had passed, they were suspended from the force and jailed after Chief William McManus said their actions didn’t conform with protocols.
The issue of whether officers needed a warrant to enter Perez’s home continues to be a question in court. Prosecutors have argued the officers’ warrantless entry amounted to burglary of a habitation. Defense attorneys counter that Perez committed a felony earlier that morning when she threw a candle at an officer, allowing police to arrest her without a warrant.