SAPD Fatally Shoots Wanted Felon Firing at I-10 Traffic

The highway located at South New Braunfels is anticipated to be closed for several hours as the police conduct an investigation. In addition to this, a driver was shot by the suspect.

The San Antonio police shot and killed a wanted man who was causing havoc on I-10 in the vicinity of South New Braunfels. The suspect engaged in shooting at highway traffic while attempting to steal a vehicle as a means to flee from the police, who were in pursuit to apprehend him.

During this Wednesday-afternoon incident, an officer from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) sustained injuries that required hospitalization. As Chief William McManus stated, the unidentified suspect possessed a “violent history,” and expressed his visible frustration while addressing the news media. This is the second time within less than a week that an officer’s hospitalization has resulted from a situation involving the police attempting to detain a wanted felon.

Chief McManus emphasized his concern regarding individuals who have an extensive criminal record and still roam the streets instead of being incarcerated, especially those with a history of violent crimes. He stated, “It’s frustrating for everybody in this department.” He further revealed that the suspect, Michael Kirkland, who had multiple warrants against him, including aggravated assault on a public servant, was being tracked by street crimes detectives.

Chief McManus declared that while on the access road in the I-10 and South New Braunfels area, Kirkland noticed the presence of the police and intentionally crashed into a patrol car as well as another vehicle. Subsequently, the suspect abandoned his vehicle and began firing shots at passing cars in an attempt to compel them to stop, with the intention of carjacking them. Furthermore, it was reported that the suspect shot and injured a woman who refused to surrender her car.

At some point, an undisclosed number of SAPD officers opened fire on the suspect, ultimately resulting in his death. The woman who initially accompanied the suspect was also detained, although it remains uncertain if she will face any charges. The injured officer’s condition is currently stable.

After being blocked off to commuters for several hours, the highway was finally reopened just prior to 7 p.m. in the evening. It is worth noting that this incident marks the 13th shooting this year involving San Antonio police officers.

As this is a developing story, stay tuned to KENS5.com for further updates.

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