A San Antonio man previously discharged from Bexar County Sheriff's Office for official oppression is scheduled for his first day in court after firing shots at SWAT team members, KENS 5 reports. The incident marked the city's first police-involved shooting of the year.
Jose Vasquez, 43, a former officer with Bexar County Sheriff's Office, will face multiple charges, including aggravated assault against a public servant. The shooting, occurring inside Vasquez's apartment on Timbercreek Drive on January 9, escalated when police say Vasquez began firing at them, even hitting an SAPD patrol car. In the ensuing chaos, an officer grazed the suspect's head with a return bullet.
The intervention by Officer Jesse Noriega, who shot Vasquez, resulted in the latter being treated at a hospital; Vasquez is expected to recover fully, according to officials. In the aftermath, Noriega has been assigned administrative duty as procedure dictates. A search of the apartment following the incident led to the recovery of several firearms.
On a related note of local mayhem, a man in Northeast Bexar County was hit by a suspected drunk driver, sustaining injuries that necessitated prompt medical attention, FOX San Antonio reports. Occurring just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, the collision on Farm-to-Market 78 near Jaenke Street led to Kirby Police detaining the driver, halting just 100 yards from the crash site, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Details on the victim's condition following the suspected DUI incident remain unreported. This incident is yet another sobering reminder of the volatility on San Antonio streets, whether through the discharge of a weapon or the suspected misuse of alcohol behind the wheel. Updates will follow regarding these events as they unfold in both the courtroom and hospital hallways.
