A late-night firefight outside the Pecan Grove Apartments on Main Street in Lytle jolted neighbors awake Thursday, sending bullets into nearby homes but, according to police, miraculously leaving no one injured. Officers with the Lytle Police Department rolled up around 11 p.m. after multiple 911 calls about shots ringing out, quickly locking down the scene while detectives began scooping up evidence. One person is now in custody, and investigators are working to pin down the identities of two additional suspects.
What police found at the scene
Officers say evidence at the complex points to a shootout involving roughly 15 to 18 rounds from two different guns. On the ground they found spent shell casings from both .45-caliber and 9 mm firearms, and later recovered .45-caliber bullets that had punched into two uninvolved residences and came to rest inside, according to News 4 San Antonio. Casings were scattered around the complex, and follow-up searches the next morning turned up additional projectiles. The gunfire was reported in the 14900 block of Main Street, near the Pecan Grove Apartments.
Suspect taken into custody
Investigators say the trouble started when two masked subjects walked up to a vehicle owned by 25-year-old Joe Anthony Ceja while he was outside, and an exchange of gunfire followed. Police told reporters Ceja "was initially not cooperative with our investigation and gave vague statements about what occurred," and he was arrested the morning of March 6 on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, per News 4 San Antonio. Detectives say the incident appears to have been a targeted shooting, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the general public.
How to help the investigation
Detectives are asking anyone who saw or heard anything useful to contact the Lytle Police Department. According to the City of Lytle, the department's administrative line is (830) 709-0277, and 24-hour dispatch is available at (830) 769-3434. The city notes that Lytle runs with a relatively small roster of officers, which means they frequently lean on county resources for major follow-up work. Police say more details will be released as the case develops.
What residents should know
Even with no injuries reported, bullets smashing into occupied homes are a stark reminder of how fast a quiet weeknight can turn ugly for people just trying to sleep. Local authorities are still digging into what happened and are urging neighbors to share any dash-cam or doorbell footage that might help them identify the remaining suspects.
