Three Texas police officers who fatally shot woman charged with murder
3 Min Read
The 46-year-old woman was having what seemed to be a mental health crisis when officers saw her and shot her in San Antonio.
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San Antonio police car (AP)
After opening fire on a woman in her apartment early on Friday and killing her, three police officers in San Antonio, Texas, are now being charged with murder.
According to San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Director William McManus, the lady, 46-year-old Melissa Perez, was shot dead by officers while exhibiting symptoms of a "mental health crisis" when they approached her.
According to local TV news station KSAT, police were called to her apartment complex at around 2 am following allegations that she was severing wires leading to the building's fire alarm system.
Firefighters from the neighborhood first responded, but when police officers later came up to Perez as she was walking her dog outside, she fled to her apartment and locked herself inside. She allegedly brandished a hammer and threw a glass candle at the officers as they attempted to enter her apartment. This struck one of the officers in the arm.
Perez was unhit by the numerous shots that an officer fired. The three officers fired at Perez again, hitting her this time as she allegedly drew closer to them with the hammer.
She was pronounced dead at the site by emergency medical personnel. No other injuries from the gunshots were recorded by the Department.
Late on Friday afternoon, the SAPD released body camera footage from the incident, which showed the police attempting to enter her apartment as Perez said, "You ain't got no warrant."
McManus stated during the Department's news conference on Friday that the officers' actions were "not consistent with... policy and training."
"This event does not accurately reflect the high level of dedication and commitment demonstrated by our over 2,500 officers nor should it undermine the extensive and advanced training we provide to ensure the health and the safety of both our officers and the community they serve."
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From left: Sgt Alfred Flores and Officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos were all arrested and suspended from their work on Friday (AP)
Sgt. Alfred Flores, Eleazar Alejandro, and Nathaniel Villalobos, the three cops, had 14, 5, and 2 years of police experience, respectively. They were detained on Friday, had their jobs suspended, and were ultimately freed on $100,000 bail.
The local district attorney's civil rights section is currently evaluating the matter, according to the police chief, and each of the officers is being looked into separately.
Police officers are rarely charged with murder for shootings that occur while they are on duty, but there has been an increase since police forces came under international scrutiny in 2020. George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis policeman that year.
Read more: Ex-police officers found guilty in murder of George Floyd
Tyre Nichols was recorded being pummeled by policemen after he was stopped for allegedly driving dangerously, and five Memphis police officers were charged with his murder earlier this year.
