San Antonio Man Identified as Victim in Fatal Shooting by Security Guard, SAPD Investigates South Side Auto Shop Incident

A man was fatally shot by a security guard during an altercation at a South Side auto body shop, and the Bexar County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as 41-year-old Eric Rodriguez. This incident occurred around 10 p.m. Monday in the 700 block of Southwest Military Drive, as reported by KTSA. According to San Antonio Police, the confrontation started when the guard got into a fight with a man who was hanging out behind the shop, which quickly escalated to involve Rodriguez.

The security guard, who was detained by SAPD immediately following the incident, allegedly fired upon Rodriguez after suspecting he was reaching to possibly draw a weapon. This account comes from interviews conducted at the scene. Rodriguez was hit in the chest and taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. While the ME's office has ruled the shooting a homicide, the decision on whether to formally charge the security guard remains to be made.

Details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting are still unfolding. An SAPD officer explained that the altercation began in a drainage ditch behind the body shop, where the security guard entered into a scuffle with another individual. Rodriguez reportedly intervened, and the situation intensified from there, according to KSAT.

Despite Rodriguez being identified as unarmed at the time of the altercation, the necessity to immediately use lethal force by the security guard is under scrutiny. The guard had been working on the property and is now considered a suspect by SAPD, though official charges have not yet been filed. The police have stated that their investigation into the matter is ongoing.