Holly MatkinBalcones Heights, TX – A manhunt is underway for two “cowards” accused of shooting a Balcones Heights police sergeant in the neck, arms, and shoulder on Wednesday.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar identified 27-year-old Wilfredo Montemayor and his 30-year-old brother, Sijifredo Montemayor, as the suspects being sought by law enforcement for attempting to kill the sergeant, KSAT reported.
“Our hope is that they heed the advice that I’m about to give them, it’s valuable advice,” Sheriff Salazar said. “Turn yourselves in. You are not going to get away with this.”
The sheriff said both men had ties to a border town in Texas and said they were working with local authorities and U.S. Border Patrol, KSAT reported.
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 @BexarCoSheriff says two brothers are wanted for attempted capital murder in the shooting of Balcones Heights police Sgt. Joey Sepulveda. The Sheriff says Wilfredo Montemayor (27) is believed to be the shooter and Sijifredo Montemayor (30) the getaway driver. pic.twitter.com/p10X9zCuWy
— Melissa Vega (@melissamvega) February 4, 2021
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) released more photos of the two suspects involved in the shooting on Wednesday evening, KENS reported.
Investigators described the driver of the suspect vehicle as Sijifredo Montemayor, who has short black hair and brown eyes, stands five feet, 10 inches tall, and weighs 150 pounds.
The alleged shooter was the passenger, Wilfredo Montemayor, who police described as having black dreadlocks and brown eyes.
He stands five feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, according to investigators.
“They are among the most cowardly people I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with in my 28-year career,” Sheriff Salazar said, according to KSAT.
The images of the two suspects were obtained from the wounded sergeant’s bodycam.
“It’s a heart-wrenching video to see,” Sheriff Salazar told reporters. “They gunned down this officer very much in cold blood. The backseat shooter looked at him in the eye and shot him point blank… in the upper body.”
Rear Passenger/Shooter:
Race: Hispanic
Age: 27 years old
Height: 5’11
Weight: 150
Hair: Black Dreadlocks
Eyes: Brown
If you have any information on this suspect, call BCSO- 210-335-6000. pic.twitter.com/jinSDO8pUb— Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (@BexarCoSheriff) February 4, 2021
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 after Balcones Heights Police Department (BHPD) Sergeant Joey Sepulveda and BHPD Officer Edgard Ortiz received a report of an automobile burglary in the parking lot of the SOL Apartments in the 6900-block of Interstate 10, KSAT reported.
When they arrived at the scene, something about the suspects’ truck caused Sgt. Sepulveda to draw his duty weapon, Sheriff Salazar told reporters on Wednesday night.
“He may have seen a weapon, we don’t know what he saw,” the sheriff said, according to KENS. “Something made him feel threatened, because soon thereafter he started taking gunfire.”
Sheriff Salazar said the gunman shot Sgt. Sepulveda point-blank and continued shooting him up eight more times as the sergeant was returning fire and running away to find cover, KSAT reported.
The sheriff said that Sgt. Sepulveda suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the neck, arms, and shoulder during the attack.
Sgt. Joey Sepulveda of Balcones Heights PD was shot while responding to a suspicious person call. He’s in surgery, and they say his recovery will be a long one. #kens5eyewitness pic.twitter.com/U3QGMyjI3Y
— SueKENS5 (@SueKENS5) February 4, 2021
Officer Ortiz returned fire and possibly hit one of the suspects as he simultaneously dragged the wounded sergeant out of the line of fire, KSAT reported.
“He was able to return fire and drag the sergeant back to safety, threw him into the sergeant’s patrol vehicle and then took off,” Sheriff Salazar told reporters.
The sheriff said multiple nearby citizens also ran to help the wounded sergeant, according to WOAI.
Officer Ortiz, who was not hit during the exchange of gunfire, rushed Sgt. Sepulveda to a nearby hospital.
The sergeant was then transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, KSAT reported.
He remained in critical condition on Wednesday night, according to WOAI.
Balcones Heights Mayor Suzanne de Leon said Officer Ortiz’s bravery and quick-thinking likely saved Sgt. Sepulveda’s life.
“I believe because of the quick action of Officer Ortiz, [Sgt. Sepulveda] is going to pull through,” de Leon said, according to KSAT.
RIGHT NOW: Sheriff Javier Salazar and the mayor of Balcones Heights are giving an update on the two officers that got into a gun fight with suspects at the Sol Apartment complex. pic.twitter.com/2XGeparUqD
— Zack Hedrick (@zhedrickTV) February 3, 2021
The mayor said Officer Ortiz has been with the BHPD for only a short while, but that he also worked as an EMS first responder for five years.
Sgt. Sepulveda, an 18-year veteran of the BHPD, also sits on the Texas Municipal Police Association’s Board of Directors and is the president of the Balcones Heights Police Union Association, KSAT reported.
“He’s just an amazing person,” de Leon said. “Someone that when he walks in the room, you know you’re safe, you know he’s got you covered.”
Sheriff Salazar said investigators are currently dealing with three separate crime scenes related to the officer-involved shooting, according to KENS.
In addition to the scene of the attack, they have also located an area where the suspects allegedly dumped evidence, and a third location where police recovered the abandoned suspect vehicle, the sheriff said.
“We’re not going to stop until we find these two cowards,” Sheriff Salazar vowed, according to WOAI.
Sandy Malone
