Texas Cops Charged With Murder After Shooting Woman In ‘Mental Health Crisis’

San Antonio, Texas (SAPD / News Release) — On June 23, 2023, at approximately 12:27 a.m. San Antonio Police Officers were dispatched at the 6200 block of Old Pearsall Rd., for a vandalism incident where a woman cut wires to an alarm panel at an apartment complex. The caller provided officers a detailed description of a Hispanic woman, that resided at the complex. Officers contacted the woman outside of the parking lot and identified her as, 46-year-old Melissa Perez, before she fled into her apartment, locking herself inside. Officers followed her to her residence located on the first floor. Attempting to arrest Perez, officers remove the screen to the window, that was already open. Officers observe Perez grab a hammer, while inside her apartment and an officer drew his weapon and notified the dispatcher that he had her at gunpoint. Additional officers then made the scene. Perez while inside her home, threw a glass candle at the officers, striking an officer in the arm, causing minor injuries.

Officers communicated with Perez through the open window for over 30 minutes. As officers jumped over the railing to the patio of the residence, Perez ran with a hammer in her hand, striking the window and shattering it. One officer fired multiple rounds towards Perez, but it did not appear she was struck by the gunfire. Perez moved away from the window but then came back towards the patio door, still holding the hammer in her hand. At this time, two other officers shot towards Perez, along with the first officer who fired the first round of gunshots. Perez was struck by the gunfire and later pronounced deceased by EMS.

No one other than Perez was injured by the gunfire. Three San Antonio police officers have been charged with murder after shooting and killing Perez on the southwest side early Friday morning, a use of deadly force that Chief William McManus said later in the day “was not reasonable.” All three of the officers were taken into custody. The department said the officers’ employment was terminated but also that they were suspended without pay.

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