Fencing around Milam Park and Market Square, metal detectors and a clear bag policy will be in effect starting April 25 for the traditional Fiesta event.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police announced new safety measures for Fiesta De Los Reyes on Wednesday, almost one year after a deadly shooting took place along Historic Market Square.
“As we prepare for this year’s Fiesta De Los Reyes, I want to assure everybody that the safety of the community is our top priority,” said Thomas Aguillon, regent with Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation.
Security improvements for big events like Fiesta have been in the works over the past year.
“You won’t be able to stand anywhere in Market Square without seeing a police officer. It’s been that way pretty much every year. We’re going to have the appropriate number of police officers to make sure that everyone feels safe and is safe,” said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.
One of the enhanced security measures include the implementation of fencing around Milam Park and Market Square.
“Milam Park will be fenced in, there will be access points where attendees have to go through. There’ll be magnetometers that people will have to pass through to make sure no one is carrying any weapons and there will be a clear bag policy,” McManus said.
He said all bags are subject to search to ensure no one brings in weapons. Bags must be 12 by 6 inches or smaller.
Ice chests and backpacks are not allowed inside Fiesta De Los Reyes.
It was in the early hours of April 28 when San Antonio police responded to a shooting at Market Square involving a 20-year-old man and an 18-year-old man who had “some sort of beef” as stated by McManus at the time.
According to officials, officers fired their weapons at 18-year-old Mikey Valdez after seeing him fire at 20-year-old Albert Cisneros Jr.
Both Valdez and Cisneros died while four other bystanders were injured.