SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police officers shot and killed one suspect and seriously injured another while trying to recover a stolen vehicle downtown on Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.
The shooting and subsequent car fire happened just before 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Flores and West Commerce streets.
In a news briefing, SAPD Asst. Police Chief Robert Blanton said officers attempted to pull over a stolen car on Commerce.
The car was reported stolen in the downtown area around noon on Thursday. Officers requested covert support to follow the vehicle, which eventually left the downtown area, Blanton said.
When the vehicle returned to the downtown area, officers attempted to pull it over and used spike strips.
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At Flores and Commerce, officers surrounded the car but the driver refused to stop, Blanton said.
The driver backed up, struck patrol vehicles, hit another parked vehicle and drove toward officers, Blanton said. The two officers, who were outside their vehicle, opened fire more than once, Blanton said.
The car continued down Commerce Street and struck a building before catching fire.
One suspect died at the scene, and the other was taken to the hospital in critical condition. No one else was injured.
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The two officers have been with SAPD for three and five years, respectively.
Bystanders told KSAT they were walking down the street when they heard a loud “bang.”
When they turned around, they said they saw flames and a “bunch of cars,” one person told KSAT.
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