Three former SAPD officers stand trial for the shooting death of Melissa Perez during a 2023 mental health call.
SAN ANTONIO — Testimony continues Wednesday in the trial of three former SAPD officers accused of shooting and killed 46-year-old Melissa Perez during a 2023 mental health call.
Jurors on Tuesday saw graphic photos and physical evidence from the scene of the police shooting.
Crime scene investigator Yvonne Diaz with the San Antonio Police Department spent much of the afternoon on the witness stand, describing what she saw and the evidence she collected after the deadly encounter early in the morning of June 23, 2023. Prosecutors used her testimony to show how bullets riddled Perez’s south-side apartment.
Several of the photos shown in court depicted Perez’s injuries to her chest and back. Her family was not present in the courtroom during that portion of testimony, and the defendants — Alfred Flores, Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos — remained composed as the images were displayed. Their lawyers say Perez charged at them with a hammer and was a threat to their safety.
Wednesday, jurors heard again from Diaz on her second day of witness testimony. She was questioned by the defense on whether evidence was collected at the scene regarding the accusation that Perez was attempting to assault the officers. Diaz also testified that she found 16 shell casings and 10 bullet fragments. She also testified that crime scene investigators did not find any other possible weapons other than the hammer.
Another witness called Wednesday was Dr. David Lynch from the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office. The doctor confirmed that Melissa Perez’s cause of death was gunshot wounds.
It was revealed Melissa Perez was struck by gunfire twice. Once in the chest and another in her armpit, despite the defendants firing off 16 shots, according to investigators.
Lynch said the Medical Examiner’s office ruled the manner of death was homicide, meaning that the death was caused by another individual. He clarified that the ruling does not imply any wrongdoing.
The defense attorney pointed out that in order for Perez to have been shot in the armpit, her arm had to be up. They also brought up the fact Perez was hit twice, not three times, even though there are three former officers charged.
The defense also tried arguing Perez’ death could have been a suicide by cop scenario since she was caught on body camera yelling at the officers at one point saying “shoot me.”
However, the pathologist testifying Wednesday said the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s office would still classify suicide by cop as a homicide.
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has charged all three former officers with murder. Each has pleaded not guilty.
Background on the case
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.
At the center of the trial is whether or not the defendants’ use of deadly force was warranted, which jurors must determine. Flores and Alejandro are charged with murder, while Villalobos is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with Perez’s death. The three are being tried together.
It was during questioning of a San Antonio police officer who responded to the scene, Officer Jonathan Salinas, that the defense called for a mistrial on Friday.
Salinas on Thursday said he was upset with a theory the state was formulating over the early days of the trial—that the officers who entered Perez’s apartment were committing burglary of a habitat. The defense team said that could incriminate Salinas and the other officers expected to testify over the course of the weekslong trial, which the district attorney’s office says is likely the first time a Bexar County law enforcement officer is on trial for murder.
Salinas was then given a public defender who announced the officer wanted to plead the fifth, giving him the flexibility not to testify further.
Ultimately, the state decided to grant immunity to the officers testifying—aside from Salinas and Officer Jesus Ramos, who was questioned for four days this week.
Day nine of testimony wrapped up Wednesday evening at around 6 p.m. The trial is set to resume Thursday morning at 10:45 a.m.