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UPDATED: Shootout leaves man dead, 4 S.A. officers injured
By Sonja Garza, Elaine Aradillias and Jesse Bogan
Express-News Staff Writers
Web Posted : 01/03/2003 12:15 PM
A San Antonio police officer was still in surgery late this morning after he killed the man responsible for a gunbattle early today at a Northeast Side restaurant that involved three other police officers.
Police Officer Michael Muñiz, 22, was being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center for four gunshot wounds suffered in the battle with the man, who died on top of Muñiz after wounding at least two other officers and seriously injuring a third.
Police Officer David Evans, 51, who also participated in the gunbattle, which began shortly after 3:30 a.m. at the Denny’s restaurant at Perrin Beitel Road and Loop 410, was released from surgery at BAMC shortly after 11 a.m.
Evans, who lost a portion of his colon in the surgery, suffered gunshot wounds to an arm, his chest and abdomen. He is still listed in critical condition and is on a ventilator.
San Antonio Police Chief Albert Ortiz said the man, who had been released after serving only seven years of a 12-year sentence for an attempted murder conviction in 1995, had commandeered the vehicle of his 20-year-old girlfriend and used a shotgun in forcing her to go to the Denny’s to confront a man he had seen her with.
Ortiz, speaking at a news conference this morning at Police Department headquarters, was encouraged by reports coming from BAMC and University Hospital, where the other two officers, Detective John Bocko and Officer Nathan Patrick Murray were being treated.
“The news since they got to the hospital has been very good,†Ortiz said at a news conference this morning at the Police Department’s headquarters. “Evans, miraculously, is coming back very strongly,†Ortiz said. Evans and Bocko were the first to respond to a domestic dispute at the restaurant.
The officers were responding to a couple fighting at the restaurant, police spokesman Gabe Trevino said.
Ortiz said the situation appeared to have been settled in a routine manner when the man, who remains unidentified, attacked Bocko.
“He was going to walk away when he just whirled and cold-cocked Officer, Detective Bocco,†Ortiz said, who added that the man may have attacked the detective when the 20-year-old girlfriend told police that the man may have a gun.
In the attack on Bocko, the man grabbed the detective’s gun. He then turned on Evans.
At that point, the shootout moved to the parking lot, where the man confronted Muñiz and Murray, who were both shot in the neck.
Ortiz said witnesses described Muñiz, who also suffered three other wounds, standing “toe to toe†against the shooter.
“Officer Muñiz, it would have been understandable if he had backed off and waited,†Ortiz said. “But he didn’t.â€
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=310&xlc=910992&xld=310
By Sonja Garza, Elaine Aradillias and Jesse Bogan
Express-News Staff Writers
Web Posted : 01/03/2003 12:15 PM
A San Antonio police officer was still in surgery late this morning after he killed the man responsible for a gunbattle early today at a Northeast Side restaurant that involved three other police officers.
Police Officer Michael Muñiz, 22, was being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center for four gunshot wounds suffered in the battle with the man, who died on top of Muñiz after wounding at least two other officers and seriously injuring a third.
Police Officer David Evans, 51, who also participated in the gunbattle, which began shortly after 3:30 a.m. at the Denny’s restaurant at Perrin Beitel Road and Loop 410, was released from surgery at BAMC shortly after 11 a.m.
Evans, who lost a portion of his colon in the surgery, suffered gunshot wounds to an arm, his chest and abdomen. He is still listed in critical condition and is on a ventilator.
San Antonio Police Chief Albert Ortiz said the man, who had been released after serving only seven years of a 12-year sentence for an attempted murder conviction in 1995, had commandeered the vehicle of his 20-year-old girlfriend and used a shotgun in forcing her to go to the Denny’s to confront a man he had seen her with.
Ortiz, speaking at a news conference this morning at Police Department headquarters, was encouraged by reports coming from BAMC and University Hospital, where the other two officers, Detective John Bocko and Officer Nathan Patrick Murray were being treated.
“The news since they got to the hospital has been very good,†Ortiz said at a news conference this morning at the Police Department’s headquarters. “Evans, miraculously, is coming back very strongly,†Ortiz said. Evans and Bocko were the first to respond to a domestic dispute at the restaurant.
The officers were responding to a couple fighting at the restaurant, police spokesman Gabe Trevino said.
Ortiz said the situation appeared to have been settled in a routine manner when the man, who remains unidentified, attacked Bocko.
“He was going to walk away when he just whirled and cold-cocked Officer, Detective Bocco,†Ortiz said, who added that the man may have attacked the detective when the 20-year-old girlfriend told police that the man may have a gun.
In the attack on Bocko, the man grabbed the detective’s gun. He then turned on Evans.
At that point, the shootout moved to the parking lot, where the man confronted Muñiz and Murray, who were both shot in the neck.
Ortiz said witnesses described Muñiz, who also suffered three other wounds, standing “toe to toe†against the shooter.
“Officer Muñiz, it would have been understandable if he had backed off and waited,†Ortiz said. “But he didn’t.â€
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=310&xlc=910992&xld=310
