Three ex-San Antonio police officers return to the courtroom Monday for the 2023 shooting of Melissa Perez amidst a mental health crisis.
SAN ANTONIO — The three former San Antonio police officers accused in the killing of Melissa Perez will be back in court Monday morning.
A jury will determine if the deadly force they used was warranted. Perez was shot and killed in 2023 during what police now describe as a mental health crisis.
The trial for Melissa Perez’s case began Friday. Both sides spent more than an hour delivering opening statements before moving on to testimony.
In June 2023, Perez’s family said she was experiencing a mental health crisis. They say she believed the FBI was listening to her through smoke detectors so she took a hammer to them.
Authorities said that’s what brought three officers to her apartment and while Perez was inside, the officers were outside her patio. That’s when investigators said Perez threw a hammer at them and the officers opened fire.
Alfred Flores and Eleazar Alejandro are charged with murder, while Nathaniel Villalobos is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting.
On Friday, attorneys debated over evidence issues and gave the defense a chance to question how thoroughly police investigated the case.
A firefighter who was at the scene told jurors Perez appeared delusional and admitted to vandalizing the fire alarm system in her complex.
The trial continues this morning. KENS 5 will be in the courtroom bringing you updates.