Hipolito Martinez says more lives were going to be taken, but they begged for their lives and the gunman spared them.
SAN ANTONIO — A first-hand account as a gunman started shooting coworkers Saturday morning at a north-side landscape supplies company.
One man says all he could think about was running for his life.
The shooting ended with three employees dead, and the gunman taking his own life.
Hipolito Martinez says the biggest question everyone is asking themselves, even days after this tragedy is why?
Martinez says Saturday morning he heard the first gun shot, then saw his co-workers running, and was trying to figure out what was happening.
Then a coworker he knew as Danilo, came to him running and yelling for him to call police.
“Then I saw David coming with a gun, chasing everyone, then he just started shooting,” said Hernandez.
David would later be identified as the suspect, 21-year-old Jose Hernandez.
Martinez says at that point his only thought was saving his life, because he knew he was in danger, so he grabbed another coworker and ran to a neighbor’s home.
At that point the gunman had already taken the life of 38-year-old Sergio Chacon, Sergio’s brother 48-year-old Selvin Chacon, known as Danilo, and followed by 24-year-old Karen Bautista.
Martinez says the only thing that scared the gunman away was the sound of police sirens and ambulances.
Police searched for nearly four hours and eventually found Hernandez dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Martinez says Sunday morning a company meeting was held, and everyone was in tears, and many like himself are saddened and devastated over the murders.
Martinez says several other lives could have been taken, but they begged for their lives, and the gunman spared them.
“Honestly, he was going to shoot everyone that got in his way but thank god that didn’t happen,” said Martinez.
Martinez says he believes many of his coworkers will need to seek mental health help after the tragedy.
All three victims were from Honduras, and leave behind children, to help the families a former co-worker has started a GoFundMe.
If you would like to help the families, you can find the GoFundMe, by clicking here.