San Marcos investigating 4 separate shootings over the weekend, including 1 deadly

SAN MARCOS, Texas — San Marcos police are investigating four separate shootings over the Halloween weekend. One person was killed and several others were injured in incidents reported from Saturday into Sunday morning.

Here’s a breakdown of what we know about each incident.

The first incident occurred around 1:11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, near Old Ranch Road and Houston Street. Officers responded to reports of gunfire and found seven shell casings at the scene. Investigators said someone fired shots from a vehicle into a wooded area. 

Two nearby residents later reported a bullet had gone through their apartment, but police said the victims did not believe they were targeted. The motive remains unclear. 

At 10 p.m. Saturday, police say an overtime officer assigned to the downtown bar district heard shots while speaking with a robbery victim outside the Hays County Courthouse. The officer ran toward the sound of gunfire and found a man shot outside a bar on Hopkins Street.

Additional officers arrived soon after and located two more victims. One was found inside the bar, suffering from gunshot wounds to the stomach and shoulder, and another had been shot in the forearm and waist. Both were taken to Ascension Seton Hays Hospital and are expected to recover, according to police.

The man found outside, later identified as 19-year-old Ronnie Hernandez Jr., was transported to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police are still searching for a suspect in that shooting, that they say is armed and dangerous.

Police said an Audi A3, reportedly used by the two male suspects seen fleeing near Kissing Alley, was captured on video from a downtown fire station. Investigators then used license plate readers to locate the car, which has been seized.

San Marcos police said crowd control became difficult as officers worked the large crime scene while the downtown bars continued operating. Intoxicated patrons reportedly crossed into the crime scene, and fights broke out in several locations.

Chief Stan Standridge said at one point, 37 calls for service were waiting, including priority calls requiring immediate response. Due to limited staffing, Standridge ordered all bars on the square to close at 1:18 a.m., about two hours earlier than usual.

“We simply did not have enough officers to effectively manage the large crime scene, continued bar operations, and calls for service,” Standridge said. 

At 1:23 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, police responded to another shooting at the Outpost Apartments in the 1600 block of Post Road. Investigators said a large fight had broken out at the pool area and was recorded on video. They believe they know the identity of the shooting suspect.

One victim was taken by friends to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, and police said blood trails at the scene suggested there may be another victim. A second suspect reportedly pistol-whipped another person. 

Detectives are working to identify and arrest both suspects. 

Then at 1:50 a.m. after the time change, officers still working downtown heard more gunfire near North LBJ Drive and Hutchison Street, about a block from the earlier homicide scene. Police chased and arrested a suspect, identified as Eliezer Johnson Hernandez. A gun was later recovered behind a nearby business, Standridge said. 

Anyone with information about any of these shootings is asked to contact the San Marcos Police Department. 

After this weekend’s incidents, San Marcos Police said they’re working to increase their security presence downtown. The city is currently working on a staffing analysis of the department, which is expected to wrap up in about two months.

SMPD also plans to add a minimum of four officers assigned to the downtown area Thursday through Saturday, plus any additional staffing the Texas State University Police Department can provide to them.

“We’ve ben in nonstop dialogue,” Standridge said. “We’re going to get this right moving forward, because we need to reassure this community right now that San Marcos is still a safe place to live.”

The Texas State University Police Department Chief Michael Carmichael told students that even before this weekend’s incidents, they’ve been having conversations with SMPD about providing support to law enforcement officers on the downtown square. He said this is a priority of the university in order to protect the safety of their students, even when they are off-campus. 

Just last week, Texas State approved four new UPD officer positions to increase coverage on every shift. They also added two Mental Health Officers who will manage two full-time therapy K9 teams.