Sheriff: Suspect detained after deputy constable is shot at in east San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO — A 49-year-old man is in custody after allegedly shooting a Bexar County deputy constable trying to serve an eviction notice at an east-side apartment complex. 

Officials say that deputy constable, who hasn’t been identified, stayed on the scene off the 500 block of Gembler and is expected to be OK. He was wearing a protective vest at the time shots rang out around 4 p.m. 

Law enforcement were working with building maintenance to get access to the suspect’s unit when he “opened fire” with a handgun, hitting the deputy constable in his body armor, officials said. 

Sheriff Javier Salazar said he anticipates the unidentified suspect will face a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, but that could change. The man was taken into custody shortly before 6 p.m. as SWAT teams on scene began deploying tear gas to coax him out. 

“While my team was getting set up, he was still firing off shots from inside the apartment,” Salazar said. “Thankfully, nobody else was injured. Thankfully, we didn’t have to use any actual force aside from the tear gas. He’s out, he’s safe, he’s secure, he’s on his way to jail.”

A heavy police presence was visible at the Artisan at Willow Springs complex, which is near the Frost Bank Center grounds and across the street from the KOA campground. Authorities said the area around the 500 block of Gembler was blocked off due to the response and Salazar asked the public to be patient while they left the scene. 

The sheriff confirmed the man has military experience, but didn’t know the extent of his service. 

A resident who lives in the area told KENS 5 the neighborhood is usually quiet and one where “everybody looks out for everybody.” 

“We heard the gunfire, we heard the shots, pow-pow-pow-pow-pow-pow! And then we hear helicopters,” the man said.