A 16-year-old boy is in stable condition after an officer-involved shooting that took place on the South Side of San Antonio on Monday morning. As reported by 550 KTSA, officers responded to a call in the 300 block of West Dickson Avenue, where the teenager was reportedly harming himself with knives. Police Chief William McManus stated, "After the young man threw the knife, one officer deployed a taser. The taser didn’t connect, and at that point, the young man started running after the officer with the knife, and at the point the officer shot." The incident left the adolescent with gunshot wounds to his shoulder and thigh.
Further details obtained by KSAT reveal that the officers called a supervisor for instructions due to the minor being home alone. During this time, the situation escalated as the teen emerged from the home armed and subsequently charged at an officer, leading to the shooting. This year has seen a total of 11 police shootings by the SAPD, with Monday's event marking the third in the last 17 days, and the fourth non-fatal incident.
Both officers involved in the shooting reportedly have around six years of service with the San Antonio Police Department. According to KTSA, while the motive behind the teenager's actions remains unclear, McManus confirmed that the department had received prior calls to the residence for mental health-related concerns, adding that the specialized mental health unit, SA Core, would not have been dispatched in this situation because the teen was armed with knives. "A diligent effort was made by the officers to deescalate the situation prior to the shooting," McManus detailed in the aftermath of the incident.
The teenage victim, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his minor status, was last reported to be in stable condition at an area hospital. This shooting contributes to an alarming pattern of officer-involved altercations within the city, raising questions about protocol and safety in response to mental health emergencies.
