Man Accused of Shooting San Antonio Officer Was in US Illegally, Say Law Enforcement Sources
San Antonio – A man, now deceased, who allegedly critically wounded a San Antonio police officer with gunshots in the early hours of Sunday, was determined to be an illegal resident in the US, as reported by a combination of local and federal law enforcement sources. The Bexar County Medical Examiner has yet to officially identify the man, but his photograph and credibility have emerged from various independent outlets.
The Assailant Identified
The individual has been identified by these sources as 25-year-old Jorge Chacon-Gutierrez, who is said to be the man behind the assault. According to their account, he fired at an officer answering an assault call around the break of sunrise on Sunday. Documents revealed to the investigative authorities indicate that Chacon-Gutierrez was detained by border authorities in Eagle Pass for illegally entering the US in November 2023. Notably, he was handed a summons to appear at a future date but released from federal custody without any bond terms or prerequisites for release.
The Crime Scene
Alexamination of the second-story apartment off Patricia Drive, reportedly the nerve center of the shooting incident, show windows perforated with bullet holes. According to police reports, Chacon-Gutierrez had armed himself with a rifle while in bed. As officers arrived at the apartment following reports of domestic violence, he began shooting at them. Police returned fire while retreating, while the arrival of the SWAT unit and other tactical resources escalated attempts to coopt Chacon-Gutierrez to surrender.
The Incident’s Conclusion
At approximately 8 am, the authorities entered the apartment to find Chacon-Gutierrez dead. Current details are not sufficient to confirm whether the suspect was killed by officers’ fire or his own weapon. Witnesses present during the incident, including Manuel Perez who lives across the hall, recounted their terrifying experiences. Lamenting the incident as a ‘night from hell,’ Perez spoke of an evening strewn with conflict, as authorities tried to verbally persuade Chacon-Gutierrez to exit the apartment over a loudspeaker and, after hours of unsuccessful attempts, finally found him deceased on entry.
Next Steps
The investigation is ongoing. There are unanswered questions such as where the rifle came from and the due diligence exercised over Chacon-Gutierrez before his release from detention following the immigration charges. As these uncertainties persist, the wounded officer has undergone surgery and is expected to fully recover.