An armed standoff at a San Antonio gas station concluded with a man facing multiple charges after police discovered him unconscious with a weapon and drugs in a stolen vehicle. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Juan Ortiz Gonzalez, was charged with vehicle theft, felony firearm possession, and two counts of drug possession following the dramatic early morning incident.
According to a report from Fox San Antonio, the standoff began shortly before 6:30 a.m. at a 7-Eleven located off Fair Avenue near South Hackberry Street. It started when a gas station employee perceived Gonzalez to be asleep in a red truck and promptly called EMS. Paramedics quickly retreated to call police upon observing Gonzalez holding a gun.
As reported by KSAT, SWAT teams surrounded the vehicle and employed a variety of tactics to try to rouse the unconscious man, including using a loudspeaker and detonating a concussion grenade. Despite the bullet holes marking the truck, Gonzalez did not respond until forced entry was practiced by SWAT officers, who then managed to extricate and awaken him.
Authorities discovered that the red truck had been stolen after Gonzalez was detained and taken into custody. SAPD spokesman Washington Moscoso said, "If he is the person who police think he is, he has outstanding warrants." Both KSAT and Fox San Antonio noted the presence of drug packages inside the vehicle, suggesting a possible reason Gonzalez was unresponsive.
Throughout the three-hour ordeal, the surrounding streets of the Southeast Side gas station were closed for safety precautions but have since reopened. Gonzalez is presently facing multiple charges as the investigation into the incident continues.
