The shooting caused a big debate between the District Attorney’s office and SAPD.
SAN ANTONIO — A trial will get underway Monday for a man accused of shooting a San Antonio police officer while on the run.
But it’s not just the crime that’s getting attention, it’s what happened before the shooting that’s sparked a big back and forth between SAPD and the District Attorney’s Office.
Dominick Rubio had warrants in 2023 for aggravated assault and a protective order violation.
The debate in Rubio’s case was over what can be done to prevent repeat violent offenders getting back into the streets.
Rubio’s first warrant was filed on August 3, 2023.
After police went to a possible crime scene involving Rubio, a second warrant was filed on August 31.
On September 5, SAPD Officer Bernal Rodriguez noticed Dominick Rubio on the southwest side and tried to arrest him.
When Rodriguez did this, he was shot in the arm and stomach.
After several hours, Rubio surrendered to police.
“This is a danger to public safety having folks like this on the street,” said SAPD Chief William McManus, San Antonio Police Department.
After this shooting Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales told us Chief McManus disbanded a repeat offender program unit in the department that was dedicated to tracking down repeat offenders.
This disbanding happened in 2022, and Gonzales added, “rubio should have been in jail long before yesterday’s shooting – and it was the SAPD’s job to search for him, serve the warrant, and get him there.”
Since the disbanding, SAPD moved the repeat offender program responsibilities to their covert response unit, who Gonzales said at the time was overturned with other cases.
Jury selection for rubio’s trial will start this morning, with opening arguments to follow.