A weekend River Walk sightseeing cruise in downtown San Antonio took a painful turn Saturday night when a woman allegedly pepper-sprayed at least eight passengers on board, leaving several people, including an infant, hurt. The incident unfolded just after 8:30 p.m. in the 500 block of the River Walk, according to police, and witnesses described a frantic scene on the dock as stunned riders scrambled for help while the suspect took off, as reported by KTSA.
Police: Woman Sprayed Passengers After Being Asked To Lower Volume
The San Antonio Police Department says the confrontation started with something as mundane as a loud phone. The woman reportedly had her phone volume turned up, which drew complaints from other passengers. After the boat operator asked her to turn it down, officers say she got off the vessel and allegedly began threatening riders before blasting them with pepper spray. Police were dispatched to the 500 block of the River Walk shortly after 8:30 p.m., and several people reported injuries, according to KTSA.
Video Shows Threats, Crying Passengers And An Infant In Distress
Clips posted to TikTok and shared by witnesses capture pieces of the argument and its aftermath. The videos and on-scene accounts show shaken riders crying on the dock and an infant in clear distress, as reported by MySA. In the footage, the woman can be heard saying, “Stop recording me before I slap you,” and, “I will kill your a**,” before walking away, according to the same reporting.
River Walk Tours Interrupted, Patrols Provide Context
GO RIO River Cruises operates narrated barges along the downtown loop and notes on its website that boats run daily and can seat up to dozens of passengers at a time. Any flare-up on the water can quickly ripple through the tourist experience, and this one briefly disrupted the flow of evening tours. The City of San Antonio’s Park Police maintains a 24-hour Riverwalk Patrol that enforces city ordinances and keeps a visible presence along the waterway, according to the City of San Antonio.
Investigation Ongoing, Suspect Still At Large
As of Monday, investigators had not located the woman and no arrests had been reported, according to KTSA. Police say they are reviewing witness statements and video as they pursue leads and plan to release more details as the investigation moves forward.
