What started as a late-morning stop at a West Side shopping center ended in a terrifying attack that police say left a 55-year-old man run over, shot and clinging to life in a San Antonio parking lot.
San Antonio police on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the March 15 assault in the 1800 block of South Zarzamora Street, where the victim was found critically injured.
Suspect Arrested And Booked
Investigators identified the suspect as 27-year-old Eli Morales, who is accused of turning a red Mitsubishi hatchback into a weapon in the middle of a busy shopping-center lot. Morales was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, according to KENS5.
Detectives say Morales was behind the wheel of the red hatchback when it approached the victim from behind, then accelerated, throwing the man onto the hood. According to the arrest warrant, the driver then fired four shots before taking off. Police say the suspect fled the scene and ditched a firearm, which investigators later recovered and matched to the attack.
How The Attack Unfolded
The violence erupted around 12:26 p.m. on March 15 in the parking lot of a Family Dollar on the 1800 block of South Zarzamora Street, where officers found the victim unresponsive, the San Antonio Express-News reported. Officers performed life-saving measures until EMS arrived.
Witnesses told police the man was first struck by a vehicle, then the person inside the car got out and opened fire. Early on, investigators had not publicly explained what led up to the confrontation or why the victim was targeted.
Surveillance, Evidence And Investigation
Detectives say the entire attack was caught on surveillance cameras, giving investigators a clear timeline of the run-over and shooting. According to KENS5, evidence collected during a search warrant, recorded jail phone calls and items seized from a west-side home all helped tie Morales to the case.
Police say officers tried to pull Morales over days after the shooting, which sparked a brief chase before detectives later tracked the Mitsubishi to a residence and took him into custody. The firearm that had been discarded after the pursuit was tested and matched to the bullets fired at the scene, according to authorities.
Charges, Possible Penalties And Next Steps
Morales is facing an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge, classified as a second-degree felony under Texas law. That charge carries a potential sentence of two to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000, per Texas Penal Code §22.02.
Prosecutors will determine whether to pursue any additional charges as the investigation continues. Detectives are still working to pin down the motive and full timeline of the attack and are asking anyone with information to contact the San Antonio Police Department.
