3 San Antonio Police Officers Charged After Fatally Shooting Woman With 'Mental Health Crisis'

Three San Antonio police officers have been charged with murder following a tragic incident in which a woman with a "mental health crisis" was shot in her apartment, according to the city's police chief.

The officers involved in the incident, identified as Sgt. Alfred Flores and officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos have been suspended without pay and subsequently arrested on murder warrants, per USA Today.

The charges stem from their actions in the shooting of Melissa Perez, a 46-year-old woman who refused police orders to exit her apartment.

The incident unfolded when Perez tried to fight off the police officers, according to Chief William McManus.

In response, one of the officers opened fire, and all three began shooting. Perez was struck by gunfire at least two times.

The actions of the officers involved in the shooting were not in line with the policies and training of the San Antonio Police Department, said McManus during a news conference on Friday.

McManus emphasized that the officers had placed themselves in a situation where they resorted to deadly force, which was deemed unreasonable based on the current understanding of the circumstances.

Victim Was Suspected of Cutting Fire Alarm Wires

Perez was suspected of committing a felony by cutting the wires to a fire alarm at the apartment complex, according to McManus.

She was engaged in a conversation with fire officials around 12:30 am on Friday when an officer approached her and attempted to guide her towards a patrol car, CHRON reported.

Perez, who appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis, according to Chief McManus, refused to comply with the officer's request and ran into her apartment.

Body camera footage reveals an officer on the patio of Perez's apartment while Perez voices her objections, shouting, "Stop it" and "You ain't got no warrant."

During the encounter, an unidentified officer warns Perez that she may be shot, to which she responds by challenging them, saying, "Shoot me - you ain't got no warrant."

The Shooting Incident

The incident unfolded when San Antonio police officers responded to a call at the Rosemont at Millers Pond apartments on Old Pearsall Road early Friday morning, according to San Antonio Express-News.

Efforts were made to communicate with Perez through an open window, but as one officer removed the window screen, Perez threw a glass candlestick, striking the officer's arm. The officers then backed away and awaited the arrival of additional officers and a supervisor.

Once backup personnel and a supervisor arrived, some officers positioned themselves at Perez's apartment door while others waited at the rear patio. They repeatedly ordered Perez to exit her apartment, but she refused to comply.

During a conversation between Alejandro and Perez, Flores and Villalobos climbed over the guardrail onto Perez's patio.

At this point, Alejandro observed Perez pick up a hammer and aggressively approach the closed patio door, swinging the hammer and striking the window near the other two officers, as stated in the arrest affidavit.

Alejandro fired several shots at Perez, believing that she posed a threat of throwing the hammer, according to the affidavit, according to the affidavit.

Perez initially stepped backward but subsequently rushed toward Flores and Villalobos on the patio, even though the door remained closed.

Responding to the perceived threat, all three San Antonio police officers discharged their firearms, fatally shooting Perez, who died at the scene.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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