Authorities say the man pointed a shotgun at officers during a confrontation just east of downtown.
SAN ANTONIO — A 41-year-old man was shot and killed by San Antonio police Friday morning after authorities say he pointed a shotgun at officers during a confrontation just east of downtown.
The incident unfolded around 10 a.m. in the 800 block of North Cherry Street, near the Hays Street Bridge and across from a popular skate park. Police Chief William McManus said the situation began with an altercation between three drivers and escalated after two of them came to a stop off North Cherry Street — where one of the men happened to live.
“One of the drivers walked away to his home and he came out of his house with a shotgun,” McManus said. “The suspect pointed the shotgun at the officers and the officers fired.”
Authorities said the man fired at least two rounds into the air before police arrived. It’s unclear how many times he was struck. The suspect, who has not yet been publicly identified, died in his backyard.
The other two drivers involved in the road dispute were questioned and later released. None of the officers — each with an average of six years on the force — were injured.
Employees at a lumber business across the street said they saw the confrontation escalate. One worker recalled a white car speeding around the corner, followed by tense exchanges between drivers. Moments later, he said, the neighbor retrieved a shotgun.
“When he came to the porch, he pointed the gun towards them,” the man said. “That’s when he put it in the air and let off a round.”
Julia Domaradzka, who has lived in the area for three years, described hearing a rapid burst of gunfire as officers began shooting.
“I couldn’t count, but it was a lot of gunshots all in a row,” she said.
Charles Hernandez, who lives nearby, said the barrage of gunfire was startling.
“I was in my house. I heard gunshots go off. I heard at least five shots go off real fast,” he said.
Residents say the man was a familiar sight in the neighborhood — often sitting on his porch smoking a cigarette, watering his lawn, cutting the grass or feeding his dog. They described him as vocal, but not prone to violence, making Friday’s events all the more shocking.
“I never saw no violence out of him,” the lumber worker said. “Just today. That was the first time we’ve ever seen something that bad.”
The same employee said the shooting rattled a community that has worked to turn itself around.
“Dignowity Hill turned into a nice place. Everybody, military people, retired people, people from California want to move down here in this neighborhood because it’s cleaning up a lot,” he said. “There’s not a lot of drug activity like back in the early ’80s when I was a teenager. It’s been a while since something like this has really happened on the east side.”
The street was blocked off for hours while investigators processed the scene. The shooting marks the 11th shooting involving SAPD this year, and the second deadly police shooting in less than a week.