A South Side confrontation on April 24 left a 58-year-old man in critical condition, and that same man is now accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to an arrest warrant. Police say the dispute unfolded in the 300 block of East Young Avenue after neighbors reported a disturbance, and the man who pulled the trigger told investigators he fired in self-defense. The wounded man, identified in court papers as Joseph "Joe" Mendez, was found with a gunshot wound to his torso and taken to University Hospital.
Warrant: Neighbor Says He Was Threatened
An arrest affidavit reviewed by KENS5 states that the shooter’s wife had called police earlier, reporting that Mendez was throwing rocks into their yard and yelling. The neighbor later told detectives that Mendez pulled a knife and threatened him. According to the affidavit, investigators recovered a stainless-steel fixed-blade knife from Mendez’s right front pants pocket and found him bleeding in his front yard.
Police at the Scene
The San Antonio Police Department responded around 4:30 p.m. to the 300 block of East Young Avenue, where officers found the man who fired outside and the wounded man in the yard, as reported by KSAT. That report notes that a 53-year-old man was detained for questioning at the scene and later released. SAPD described the incident as a disturbance and said its investigation is ongoing.
Charges and Legal Context
The arrest warrant lists a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Mendez, according to KENS5. Under Texas Penal Code §22.02, aggravated assault occurs when a person causes serious bodily injury or uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during an assault. It is generally a second-degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison, with the possibility of stiffer penalties in specific situations set out in the statute. The limits of self-defense and when deadly force may be justified are laid out in state law, as detailed by the Texas Legislature.
What Happens Next
SAPD detectives say they are still gathering witness statements and physical evidence as the case moves through the warrant process, and any formal filings would be handled by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, KSAT reports. For now, the case is proceeding on the basis of the affidavit. The wounded man remains hospitalized, and investigators have not announced a court date tied to the warrant.
