San Antonio, Texas — In the early morning hours of November 27, 2023, a fatal officer-involved shooting occurred on the 4400 block of West Commerce Street, near Southwest 29th Street, involving two San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers and a single armed suspect.
At approximately 1:00 a.m., the two officers were patrolling the area in a marked SAPD patrol vehicle, conducting routine surveillance in the west side neighborhood. As they were traveling along West Commerce Street, the vehicle came to a slow stop, though officers did not initially indicate they were initiating a traffic stop or responding to a call.
Suddenly, a male passenger in the patrol car—later identified as 45-year-old Steven Lopez—jumped out of the vehicle without warning. Officers reacted quickly to the unexpected development. One officer exited the vehicle and pursued Lopez on foot, issuing loud verbal commands for him to stop. The second officer, who was behind the wheel, pulled the patrol car forward to cut off Lopez’s path, then exited to assist in the pursuit.
Despite the officers’ repeated commands, Lopez continued to run away. The chase covered a short distance before Lopez turned abruptly toward the officers. In that moment, he pointed a handgun directly in their direction. One of the officers shouted a warning upon seeing the weapon, alerting his partner to the immediate threat.
Fearing for their safety and the potential risk to others in the vicinity, both officers fired multiple rounds at Lopez. He was struck several times and collapsed to the ground. Officers quickly moved to secure the scene and called for emergency medical assistance. However, when medical personnel arrived, Lopez was pronounced deceased at the scene from his injuries.
Following the shooting, officers recovered a loaded handgun in close proximity to Lopez’s body. The firearm matched the description given by the officers and was confirmed to have been in his possession during the confrontation. Initial assessments indicated that Lopez had pointed the weapon at officers in a threatening manner, which prompted the use of lethal force.
The area was secured with crime scene tape as SAPD investigators and forensic units arrived to begin their examination. The scene was processed thoroughly, with body camera footage and eyewitness accounts forming part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities are working to determine whether Lopez had any outstanding warrants or a criminal history that may have influenced his actions.
No officers or bystanders were injured during the incident. Both officers involved have been placed on administrative duty, as is standard protocol in any officer-involved shooting. Their identities have not yet been released to the public, pending the outcome of the department’s internal review.
SAPD released a preliminary statement emphasizing the seriousness of the incident and their commitment to a transparent investigation. “Our officers were faced with a sudden and life-threatening situation,” the statement read. “We are conducting a full review of all evidence, including body-worn camera footage, to ensure accountability and public trust.”
This shooting marks another example of how rapidly police encounters can escalate, particularly when suspects are armed. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with input from the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, which will review the officers’ actions to determine if the use of deadly force was justified under Texas law.
As of now, there has been no official explanation for why Lopez was in the patrol vehicle or what circumstances led to his sudden flight. Additional details will likely be released as the investigation progresses.
