The Medical Examiner has identified the man killed in the Monday night fire, as 54-year-old Michael Anthony Gallegos.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio firefighters who raced to a call for a fire at a home on the city’s northwest side Monday night, arrived to find light smoke and police taking up tactical positions around the house for reports of an armed gunman in the home.
Investigators said they’re familiar with the home located on the 3700 block of Chartwell, as they’ve responded to disturbance calls over time, including several Monday evening from worried neighbors.
Police said a woman to say she was worried about her 54-year-old son, who was still inside the home when smoke started to rise.
Late Tuesday, the Medical Examiner identified the man found dead inside the home as Michael Anthony Gallegos, but a ruling has not yet been made on his cause and manner of death.
Officers pointed out they had already been to the location earlier in the day for a gun disturbance and had tried multiple times to contact Gallegos, but he refused to answer their knocks and calls.
Police said multiple attempts were made by police to reach the man as the fire was growing.
Firefighters had to take a defensive approach, staging personnel behind fire trucks, out of the line of potential gunfire. They cautioned each other on the radio to take cover and stay behind police lines.
As the fire grew, the incident commander said they made plans to fight from a distance, so as to keep firefighters safe.
“We flowed water from a safe distance and whenever we made entry we found one deceased victim, said Doug Reed, fire incident commander.
Fire and police declined to comment about what may have killed the man.
Reed said one firefighter was treated for a heat illness and police officers were able to rescue three dogs.
Tuesday morning, neighbors said they are caring for the dogs and keeping an eye on the property, as the family begins the job of recovery.
The city has a small window to issue a ruling on whether the home can be repaired. If they deem the damage to the structure too extensive, they can order an emergency demolition.
KENS 5 reached out to the Development Services division to ask if they’re moving forward on the case, but we’re still waiting for a response.