Police are investigating what led to the fatal shooting after officers responding to a prowler report found the wounded 17-year-old.
SAN ANTONIO, TX — A 17-year-old boy died at a hospital after he was shot in the chest early Wednesday on San Antonio’s West Side, according to police and local reports.
Officers were investigating a report of suspicious activity around 12:30 a.m. Sept. 9 near Monica Place and Melissa Sue when an officer heard a gunshot, police said. The teenager was found wounded in the 1400 block of Melissa Sue and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead.
Police were working Wednesday to determine what happened before the shooting and who fired the shot. Authorities had not publicly identified a suspect, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained under investigation.
According to police accounts cited by local news organizations, the initial call involved a person suspected of prowling or possibly burglarizing vehicles in the neighborhood. Investigators had not established publicly whether the teenager who was shot was the person involved in that report or exactly what led to the gunfire.
Police said the teenager was wearing a ski mask when officers found him. Investigators also found a Glock ammunition magazine near the scene. Authorities had not said Wednesday whether the magazine belonged to the teen, whether a firearm was recovered with it or whether the item was directly connected to the shooting.
Several people were reportedly seen leaving the area around the time of the shooting, but police had not identified them or announced any arrests. Investigators continued searching for people who may have information about what happened.
The shooting occurred in a residential area near Gilbert Garza Park, which is close to the intersection of Culebra and Callaghan roads on the West Side. The city describes the park as a 21.5-acre public facility on Mira Vista.
The teenager’s name had not been publicly released as of Wednesday morning. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office was expected to confirm his identity and determine the official cause and manner of death.
Police had not announced a motive or identified the person who fired the shot. The investigation remained active Wednesday as detectives worked to establish the sequence of events leading to the teenager’s death.
Author note: Last updated September 9, 2026.