Police say the San Antonio man who was wounded in the confrontation allegedly charged at his neighbor with a knife before the shooting.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio man who was shot by his neighbor during a confrontation last month is now the one facing criminal charges, according to a newly released arrest warrant.
Police say 58-year-old Joseph “Joe” Mendez has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after investigators determined he was allegedly the aggressor in the incident.
According to the arrest affidavit, officers were called around 4:34 p.m. on April 24 to the 300 block of East Young Avenue for reports of a shooting in progress. When officers arrived, they found Mendez suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso in the front yard of his home. He was taken to University Hospital in critical condition.
Investigators say the man who shot Mendez told officers he acted in self-defense after Mendez allegedly threatened him with a knife.
According to the warrant, the conflict began earlier that morning when the shooter’s wife called him at work, claiming Mendez was throwing rocks into their yard and yelling at her. When the husband returned home, he confronted Mendez in the street.
The affidavit states Mendez became upset, removed his shirt, challenged the man to fight and then pulled a knife from his pocket. The shooter told police Mendez waved the knife around before putting it back in his pocket and advancing toward him again.
Witnesses backed up parts of that account.
One witness told investigators Mendez had been throwing stones from his yard and yelling threats, allegedly saying, “You know what? I’m going to kill you,” before reaching into his pocket and moving toward the victim, according to arrest warrant.
The witness said that’s when the man fired one shot.
Another witness, identified as the shooter’s wife, also told police Mendez displayed a knife and continued advancing toward her husband before the shooting.
Investigators also reviewed cellphone video recorded during the confrontation. According to the affidavit, the video showed the two men facing each other in the roadway while the shooter pointed a handgun at Mendez. Police say Mendez then reached toward his pocket and moved closer before the shot was fired.
Responding officers later recovered a stainless-steel fixed blade knife from Mendez’s right front pants pocket, according to police documents.
The affidavit also references prior police calls involving Mendez, including a 2024 incident in which a neighbor reported Mendez allegedly tried to break into their home and another 2026 call involving a reported mental health episode.