SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified a woman killed in a crash after a pursuit initiated by deputies.
The medical examiner’s office said Priscilla Gaiton, 43, died from multiple blunt force injuries. Her death was ruled an accident.
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Background
San Antonio police officers were initially dispatched to a shooting call just after 2 a.m. Saturday in the 7000 block of Woodlake Parkway.
According to an SAPD preliminary report, a suspect opened fire at the home on Woodlake Parkway. When they arrived, first responders found the victim, identified as 25-year-old Jennifer Rodriguez, inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds.
Rodriguez was transported to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
However, SAPD said they do not know what led up to the shooting. It’s also unclear who shot Rodriguez.
During a Saturday BCSO news conference, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar shared additional details about the pursuit.
Salazar revealed there was a 19-year-old passenger in the car, identified by BCSO as Ethan Gonzales, who attempted to flee the crash scene on foot.
Deputies said they caught up with Gonzales shortly after and took him into custody. He was also taken to a hospital for further treatment.
While in the hospital, Gonzales attempted to escape again but was tased and taken back into custody, according to BCSO.
The sheriff said Gonzales is related to Gaiton but did not disclose how they are related.
BCSO also confirmed there’s a connection between Gaiton and Rodriguez, but Salazar declined to elaborate on that connection.
How the BCSO pursuit began
San Antonio police said Gaiton’s vehicle fled the scene.
While more SAPD officers were on their way to the Woodlake Parkway scene, police learned a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy was pursuing Gaiton’s vehicle, authorities said.
Salazar said a deputy on patrol in east Bexar County heard gunshots and saw Gaiton driving at a high rate of speed.
The sheriff added that the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, but Gaiton refused to pull over.
The deputy followed Gaiton’s vehicle as she drove around a parking lot, reentered Walzem Road and sped toward Interstate 35, BCSO said Saturday.
When Gaiton’s vehicle approached the I-35 access road, she lost control and collided with a light pole, the sheriff said.
According to BCSO’s investigation, the crash tore off the driver-side door of Gaiton’s vehicle, ejecting her from the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the crash scene, Salazar said an “AK-style rifle” with a live round in the weapon was found inside Gaiton’s vehicle. A fully loaded magazine, detached from the rifle, was also found near the crash scene, deputies said.
The sheriff said three deputies have been placed on administrative leave. While the incident is not considered a deputy shooting type of event, Salazar said BCSO linked the pursuit to an in-custody death and will follow its administrative leave protocols in this case.
The sheriff said he believes the deputies followed BCSO’s “all processes and policies” in the pursuit.
Salazar said SAPD will lead the investigation into the deadly shooting.
Charges Gonzales faces
Gonzales is facing two Bexar County charges: evading arrest on foot and escape from custody, the sheriff said on Saturday.
Gonzales was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center just after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. A county judge set his bond for the two Bexar County charges at a combined $20,000.
San Antonio police officers have not yet disclosed if they have filed their own charges against Gonzales.
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