An elderly man was found dead and a woman severely injured at a San Antonio apartment complex on Friday, in what police are treating as a brutal assault. The San Antonio Police Department has arrested James Barber, 45, in connection to the violence that occurred at the Westmount at Three Fountains Apartments on the city's Northwest Side.
Responding to a welfare check at around 5:45 p.m. in the 7900 block of Pipers Creek, officers discovered the horrific scene after gaining entry with the help of maintenance staff. They found an 85-year-old man beaten to death and heard a 57-year-old woman's plea for help, reporting to have "heard the woman crying for help." according to KSAT. Details regarding the severity of the woman's injuries have not been disclosed.
Barber was located in a nearby room and was quickly taken into police custody. He faces charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As of now, the authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims. Citing the SAPD, FOX San Antonio reports that Barber's bond has been set at $400,000 and he awaits a pre-hearing in February at the Bexar County Jail.
The case remains under active investigation by the SAPD as they attempt to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident. The community is in shock as details slowly emerge surrounding the violent confrontation that prematurely claimed to have ended a life and left another in peril, shaking the sense of safety typically felt in the area.
