Early Tuesday morning, a suspected car thief was shot and killed by a vehicle owner at an apartment complex on the West Side of San Antonio. The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. at the Oxford at Estonia apartments off Micron Drive near Culebra Road, where police responded to reports of gunfire.
According to KSAT, the man in his 50s was about to leave for work when he discovered the alleged thief in his vehicle. Reacting to the attempted theft, the man fired at the suspect as he tried to drive away. The suspect, believed to be in his 40s, was struck by the gunfire, exited the vehicle and made a short run before collapsing and dying from his injuries.
The vehicle owner reported to FOX San Antonio that this was not the first attempt on his car, revealing it was the third time someone had tried to steal a vehicle from him. The larger context of the shooting includes complaints from a neighbor about the recent spate of vehicle break-ins and thefts in the area.
As the investigation continues, police have yet to determine whether charges will be filed against the shooter. According to officials, the owner of the SUV was unharmed during the confrontation. Details on the legal repercussions of the shooting remain unclear.
The identity of the deceased has not been released as authorities are still working on the investigation. The San Antonio Police Department is in talks with the vehicle owner, and further information will be disclosed once the investigation has progressed.
