“This was just something that wasn’t supposed to happen, something that shouldn’t have happened.”
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio family is mourning the death of a 37-year-old man who police say was run over and killed during a confrontation in a parking lot north of downtown last weekend — an incident relatives describe as an unimaginable family tragedy.
The family of Bryan Brown confirmed Saturday that the suspect in the case is Brown’s brother-in-law.
The incident happened early Sunday morning near San Pedro Avenue and West Laurel Street. Police say Brown and his aunt’s husband, Xavier Baca, were walking through a parking lot when an argument broke out with Brown’s brother-in-law, 36-year-old Johnathon Perez.
According to police, Perez got into his vehicle and sped through the parking lot, striking both Brown and Baca.
“This was just something that wasn’t supposed to happen,” a family member said. “Something that shouldn’t have happened.”
Brown was pronounced dead at the scene. Baca was taken to the hospital in critical condition but survived.
Police say Perez fled without stopping to render aid. Officers later located him nearby and determined he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Saturday would have been Brown’s 38th birthday. Instead of celebrating, family members gathered near the site where his life ended to honor his memory.
Lucinda Gonzalez, Brown’s aunt, said the family had planned a surprise birthday party for him a week earlier, on Feb. 1, because Brown’s daughter was scheduled to attend a quinceañera on his actual birthday.
“We were having a surprise party for him last Saturday because today is his birthday,” Gonzalez said. “Happy heavenly birthday, mijo. I love you.”
Family members said Brown and Perez were close and spent time together regularly, making the loss even more painful.
“We were trying to control the situation, and it just got out of control,” one relative said.
Despite the circumstances, Brown’s family said they are focused on laying him to rest and finding peace.
“He loved his brother-in-law,” a family member said. “And he would want our family to be peaceful with everything.”
Perez is facing charges of intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault, collision involving death, and collision involving serious bodily injury.