A tragic shooting claimed the life of Josiah Cabral, shaking a northwest-side community and leaving unanswered questions as San Antonio police investigate.
SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County medical examiner has ruled that 4-year-old Josiah Cabral, who police say was shot in his home in northwest San Antonio around 3 p.m. Monday, died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Records show he was pronounced dead at the hospital 34 minutes after the call for help reached the first responders who tried to save him at the residence on Windstone Creek.
Police Chief William McManus said the boy was home with his mother and father, adding that the father tried to resuscitate his son while medics rushed to the scene.
Kayleigh, a neighbor who lives nearby, said she grew up in the area. She said it was a hard, heartbreaking day for her neighbors.
“It’s just been so, so sad. I mean, the whole street, you could feel it yesterday, was very distraught,” Kayleigh said. “It’s very shocking to have something like this happen right across the street, really.”
Kayleigh said that, in whispers and in online chats, neighbors are talking about the loss.
“My neighbor saw the young 4-year-old boy being carried out limp. I’m sure that image will stay with her forever,” Kayleigh said.
Police took both parents in for questioning at the scene, but as of Tuesday night, police have not provided an update about whether there has been an arrest.
“This incident is still an extremely active investigation,” police officials said in a statement provided Tuesday afternoon. “There is very limited preliminary information other than what was stated yesterday. Please check back in at a later time.”
Kayleigh said the sentiment among neighbors is that knowing the cause of the shooting will provide little comfort.
“I have a 4-year-old and I don’t know what happened,” Kayleigh said. “But at the end of the day, a little baby boy was killed. So I don’t know if it would help to know what the circumstances were around it, but it’s just tragic.”
Police did provide records of calls to service to the home. They said since April of last year, there were four calls for disturbances, three of those coming on just one day.
The reports from those incidents show they turned out to be unfounded, with police officers who responded unable to find anyone causing trouble. When they knocked on the door of the home, there was no answer.
‘Profound sadness’
Officials with Northside ISD confirmed Josiah attended Steubing Elementary School.
In a letter sent to the school community Tuesday, Principal Latia Bishop called Josiah’s death a “tragic loss… that touches all of us—our students, our staff and the community as a whole.”
See the full letter Bishop sent below:
“Dear Steubing Elementary Parents and Guardians,
“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I write to share some very difficult news with our school community. On Monday, December 8th, we experienced the tragic loss of one of our young Steubing Elementary students. This is a very difficult time for the student’s family, and it is a loss that touches all of us—our students, our staff, and the community as a whole. Our thoughts are with the family during this heartbreaking time.
“To help our students and staff process this tragedy, we are utilizing the NISD Counseling Department’s Grief Response Team. This team of professional school counselors will provide comprehensive support services to anyone who is struggling.
“We are a close-knit community, and we will get through this difficult time together. Thank you for your understanding, compassion, and support.”