SAN ANTONIO, TX – A 22-year-old man was fatally shot early this morning by federal agents executing an arrest warrant at an apartment complex on Northeast Loop 410. The incident took place around 6 a.m. at the Merida Apartments near Starcrest, leaving residents shaken and searching for answers.
According to the deceased man’s roommate, the early morning raid began with loud banging and shouting, causing confusion and fear among the apartment’s occupants. “We thought we were being robbed,” the roommate recounted, describing the chaotic moments when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) forced their way inside.
The roommate explained that the man’s father and aunt were asleep in the living room when the agents burst through the front door. “We didn’t know who was at the door. The first thing we heard was ‘police,’ and then shots were fired,” he said, still visibly shaken by the ordeal. The 22-year-old man was struck by three bullets and died at the scene.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the roommate was ordered to step over his friend’s body as agents detained him. “I was cooperating, but I was terrified they might shoot me too,” he said. The roommate believes that his friend, who had a criminal history, would have surrendered peacefully if given the opportunity. “He wasn’t afraid of doing time. He would have complied,” he added.
Federal authorities have yet to release details about the arrest warrant or the reasons behind the raid. The medical examiner’s office has also not disclosed the identity of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.
As the investigation continues, the community remains on edge, grappling with the tragic events that unfolded in their neighborhood. Residents are calling for transparency and accountability from law enforcement agencies involved in the incident.