Holly MatkinSan Antonio, TX – A San Antonio police officer stopped an AR-15-weilding gunman with a single bullet during a shootout in a residential area last month (video below).
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) released bodycam footage of the deadly incident on Wednesday.
The series of events leading up to the shootout began at approximately 2:15 p.m. on March 28, when SAPD officers were dispatched to the 200-block of Essex Street for a report of a shooting, the department said in a critical incident briefing.
When they arrived at the scene, they discovered a suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Paul Palafox, had gotten into a dispute with another man over money and allegedly shot him in the leg, KSAT reported.
Palafox fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival.
Police said someone at the shooting scene directed officers to the 1300-block of South Mesquite Street, where the suspect was residing.
Bodycam footage showed an officer pulled up at the residence and interacted with Palafox from a distance.
“What’s up?… You were waving your fingers at me,” the officer said as he stood just outside his open patrol car door.
He sent out an alert that he had made contact with the suspect, who was yelling inaudibly off-camera.
“You don’t reach for anything, dude,” the officer told him, just before he drew his duty weapon. “Don’t reach for anything, bro! Don’t reach for anything! Don’t you do it! Don’t do it!”
The officer ordered Palafox to show his hands and radioed for backup to “step it up,” the video showed.
He drew down on the suspect from behind his patrol car just as Palafox opened fire, according to police.
Bodycam footage showed multiple officers running for cover down the street as a barrage of gunfire erupted.
“He’s got an AR! He’s got an AR!” one officer yelled frantically. “He’s got a rifle!”
The SAPD confirmed police did return fire after the initial attack.
Aerial footage showed Palafox pacing around with a rife in his hands.
“The suspect entered and exited the house on two occasions, firing at officers while inside the home,” the SAPD said. “He then took a position between two vehicles and continued to engage the officers.”
Additional bodycam footage showed an officer armed with a rifle standing near a fence.
“An officer found a location that provided visibility of the suspect,” the police department said.
The officer fired off a single round, incapacitating Palafox.
“He’s down, he’s down,” a voice said over the radio a moment later.
Palafox was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, the SAPD said.
He succumbed to his wounds on March 31.
No officers or bystanders were injured during the shootout.
The four officers involved in the fatal shooting have all been on the force between four and 20 years, KSAT reported.
They have been placed on administrative duty while the incident is being investigated, as per protocol.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content:
Sandy Malone