A Sunday evening visit to the San Antonio Zoo turned tense when a man pulled a handgun during what police described as a family dispute, briefly rattling families out for a night at the popular Brackenridge Park attraction.
Officers responded to the zoo, tracked down the suspect along with the weapon, and contained the scene, according to KSAT. Investigators were still on site Sunday night and had not yet decided whether to make arrests or file charges.
What police said
San Antonio police told reporters the confrontation may have grown out of a child custody dispute, and said the man with the gun was believed to be a friend of one of the parents, KSAT reported. A sergeant at the scene said the suspect allegedly threatened one of the parents during the incident.
The department described the situation as isolated and said there was “no ongoing threat to the public” while officers continued their investigation, according to KSAT.
Zoo context and earlier incidents
The San Antonio Zoo sits inside Brackenridge Park and shares visitor details such as hours and location on its website. Earlier this year, two people were injured in a January stabbing outside the zoo when they tried to stop a fight, according to KTSA. Police likewise treated that case as an isolated public-safety incident near the attraction.
What to watch for
SAPD said its investigation into Sunday’s gun incident remains active and that updates will be released as needed. For now, officers maintain there is no continuing threat to zoo visitors or nearby residents, and Brackenridge Park attractions, including the zoo, remain open while detectives continue their follow-up work.
