SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police arrested two teenagers in connection with the murder of an 80-year-old woman who was caught in the crossfire of a shooting in downtown San Antonio earlier in May.
Jacob Rios, 19, and an unidentified 16-year-old male are charged with murder, San Antonio police chief William McManus said.
Officers responded around 10 p.m. on May 26 to the 600 block of East César E. Chávez Boulevard after receiving calls for a shooting.
Upon arrival, 80-year-old Heidi Silkworth, an innocent bystander who had just attended graduation at the Alamodome, was found with a gunshot wound to the head, McManus said.
McManus said the shooting happened when Rios and the 16-year-old male robbed another person. The victim of the robbery was armed and began shooting toward Rios and the 16-year-old male, police said.
Rios and the 16-year-old male returned fire while running away from the robbery victim, SAPD said. It was during the exchange of gunfire when Silkworth, a passenger of a passing SUV, was shot and killed, according to McManus.
Another person, believed to be involved in the exchange of gunfire, was critically injured during the shooting. It’s not known whether it was Rios, the 16-year-old male, or the robbery victim.
Through various investigative techniques, McManus said detectives identified Rios and the 16-year-male as suspects in connection with the shooting death of Silkworth. Warrants were issued for their arrests following the development of probable cause.
SAPD’s Street Crime Unit and Covert Unit began searching for Rios and the 16-year-old male. They were both located on the South Side and were arrested without incident on Saturday evening, McManus said.
McManus said Rios and the 16-year-old male may face additional charges in the future.