SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police have identified a man accused of shooting seven police officers in Stone Oak during a response to a suicide in progress call.
The suspect, identified as Brandon Scott Poulos, 46, was found dead after the standoff on Wednesday night, police said.
Court records show Poulos was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 18, and charged four times.
His charges included assault causing bodily injury-family member, two counts of injury to a child, elderly, or disabled person with intent bodily injury and one count of DWI. Poulos was released on bond the following day, according to court records.
Poulos was referred to veteran’s court, and a mental health assessment was ordered, according to court records.
Officers shot while respond ing to call
The officers were dispatched to a suicide in progress call at an apartment complex in the 18700 block of Stone Oak Parkway just before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
When they arrived, a woman exited the apartment and said Poulos was shooting inside and he was coming out of the apartment.
Poulos exited the apartment and opened fire, police said.
During a news conference just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, SAPD Chief William McManus said the first officer arrived at the scene and was shot in the leg.
At some point, Poulos went back inside the apartment and began shooting at officers, the report states.
A second officer arrived and was also shot, according to McManus. A third and fourth officer later arrived and were shot as well.
The fourth officer suffered a gunshot wound to their upper body, SAPD said.
During an update at 2 a.m. Thursday, McManus confirmed that an additional three SAPD officers were shot.
All seven officers suffered injuries not expected to be life-threatening.
McManus said that the suspect barricaded himself inside the apartment complex for several hours. However, McManus did not specify when the incident ended.
McManus said Thursday that officers found the suspect dead in an apartment. It is unclear if he died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds or if he died by SAPD gunfire.
The officers each have between four and eight years of service with the department. They will be placed on administrative duty until further notice.
A Stone Oak resident told KSAT that he heard “one big bang” while studying in his apartment, but he didn’t think much of the noise.
“My mom, she lives with me, so she told me to come outside (to) the balcony,” the resident said. “She heard all these noises. Sure enough, there’s (sic) like helicopters flying everywhere.”
Moments later, the resident said he heard multiple gunshots.
“It was two or three,” the resident said. “I was, like, ‘Hey mom, those are gunshots.’ I looked over to the hallway, and sure enough, I saw one of the SAPD officers was (sic) on the ground, and he had been shot. It looked like he got shot in the upper thigh because they were putting a tourniquet on him.”
McManus said some apartment residents near the shooting were evacuated on Wednesday. One resident told KSAT on Thursday that some have since returned to their units.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, call 988 or text TALK to 741-741.
You can also reach out to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) or the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) at 800-950-NAMI (6264) or 800-316-9241. You can also text NAMI to 741-741.
