http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=911602&xld=180
By Rebeca Rodriguez
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 01/04/2003 12:00 AM
Sometimes, experience comes quickly, in the blink of an eye.
For Michael Muñiz, a rookie San Antonio police officer critically injured during a Friday morning shootout, it came in the space of minutes.
"As far as I'm concerned, he's not a rookie anymore," said Officer Robert Wilson, who works at Muñiz's substation. "He's got more experience than a lot of guys."
Muñiz, 22, and three other officers were shot Friday while responding to a domestic dispute at a Northeast Side diner.
Hit four times, Muñiz still managed to fire the shots that killed gunman Jamie Lichtenwalter, ending the ordeal.
Muñiz was in critical but stable condition Friday night at Brooke Army Medical Center after hours of surgery to repair gunshot wounds in his jaw, neck, left thigh, upper chest and right buttock, a BAMC spokeswoman said.
Doctors are not sure whether Muñiz has sustained any nerve damage that could permanently affect his right leg.
Muñiz's family members called him a hero Friday.
"We're very, very proud of him," said Dan Elizondo, Muñiz's stepfather. "He really, really loves his job and that's what his calling is."
Elizondo said he and Muñiz's mother, Denise Elizondo, got "the call" about 4:45 a.m. Friday.
"Shocked," Elizondo said, describing their emotions at that moment. "You never expect a call like that."
Muñiz graduated from Clemens High School in 1998. He worked as a lab technician at an EyeMasters optical shop before entering the police academy. He became an officer in July and had been on the force two months.
Elizondo was clutching his stepson's badge — No. 1525 — that was still attached to a swatch of Muñiz's dark blue uniform.
Muñiz's sister Angela Muñiz, 19, stood by her parents, her eyes swollen and red.
Dan Elizondo said the family always worried about Muñiz getting injured in the line of duty, but this incident won't end his law enforcement ambitions.
"This is not going to deter him at all," Dan Elizondo said. "He's going to make it."
Added his wife: "If you know my son, you'd know he doesn't give up."
[email protected]
01/04/2003
By Rebeca Rodriguez
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 01/04/2003 12:00 AM
Sometimes, experience comes quickly, in the blink of an eye.
For Michael Muñiz, a rookie San Antonio police officer critically injured during a Friday morning shootout, it came in the space of minutes.
"As far as I'm concerned, he's not a rookie anymore," said Officer Robert Wilson, who works at Muñiz's substation. "He's got more experience than a lot of guys."
Muñiz, 22, and three other officers were shot Friday while responding to a domestic dispute at a Northeast Side diner.
Hit four times, Muñiz still managed to fire the shots that killed gunman Jamie Lichtenwalter, ending the ordeal.
Muñiz was in critical but stable condition Friday night at Brooke Army Medical Center after hours of surgery to repair gunshot wounds in his jaw, neck, left thigh, upper chest and right buttock, a BAMC spokeswoman said.
Doctors are not sure whether Muñiz has sustained any nerve damage that could permanently affect his right leg.
Muñiz's family members called him a hero Friday.
"We're very, very proud of him," said Dan Elizondo, Muñiz's stepfather. "He really, really loves his job and that's what his calling is."
Elizondo said he and Muñiz's mother, Denise Elizondo, got "the call" about 4:45 a.m. Friday.
"Shocked," Elizondo said, describing their emotions at that moment. "You never expect a call like that."
Muñiz graduated from Clemens High School in 1998. He worked as a lab technician at an EyeMasters optical shop before entering the police academy. He became an officer in July and had been on the force two months.
Elizondo was clutching his stepson's badge — No. 1525 — that was still attached to a swatch of Muñiz's dark blue uniform.
Muñiz's sister Angela Muñiz, 19, stood by her parents, her eyes swollen and red.
Dan Elizondo said the family always worried about Muñiz getting injured in the line of duty, but this incident won't end his law enforcement ambitions.
"This is not going to deter him at all," Dan Elizondo said. "He's going to make it."
Added his wife: "If you know my son, you'd know he doesn't give up."
[email protected]
01/04/2003
