Three Texas police officers charged with murder in fatal shooting of woman having mental crisis

Three Texas police officers have been charged with the murder of a 46-year-old woman who was having a manic episode and was cutting wires to her apartment building’s fire alarm system.

San Antonio police sergeant Alfred Flores, officer Eleazar Alejandro, and officer Nathaniel Villalobos were the three officers involved in the June 23 incident.

The woman, identified as Melissa Petez, was experiencing a mental health crisis around 2am on Friday, officials said. Bodycam footage captured her yelling and at one point holding a hammer.

All three officers outside the woman’s apartment are seen pointing their guns in the direction of the front of the house before they begin to open fire, KWTX News reported. 

At a news conference on Friday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the use of force ‘was not reasonable’ and not consistent with department policy.

The chief said he would not take any questions after the conference because it is an ‘active investigation.’ 

The three San Antonio Police Officers: (l-r) Sgt. Alfred Flores and Officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos were charged on Friday with the fatal shooting of a woman  who was experiencing a mental health crisis 

San Antonio Police Department Chief Sgt. Alfred Flores, a 14-year-veteran of he force, is seen opening fire that was captured by the officer’s bodycam 

Another officer is holding and pointing a gun at the home of Melissa Perez, 46, who was having a mental health crisis, as per bodycam footage 

‘It appears Ms. Perez was having a mental health crisis,’ the police chief said.

The officers who arrived at the scene first attempted to help Perez and walk her to a patrol unit, but she ran back inside her apartment and locked the door and the situation escalated.

Officers tried to speak to her through an open window, but she threw a glass candle at the one of the officers, the police chief said. 

Two officers were seen leaping on top the patio area while Perez was holding a hammer and swinging it inside the home in the direction of where the officers were standing.

The hammer ended up hitting and shattering one of the windows but none of the officers appeared to be hit by the hammer.

One of the officers responded by opening fire, but it doesn’t appear that Perez had been hit by the round of bullets. 

She then attempted to go back outside where the officers were standing, with hammer in hand, and that is when the officers again opened fire and she was fatally struck by gunfire.

One of the officers is seen climbing over the railing onto the patio where Perez was inside 

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All three officers outside the woman’s apartment located at 6200 block of Old Pearsall Road (pictured) in San Antonio, Texas 

San Antonio Police Chief McManus during the Friday press conference: ‘The shooting officers’ actions were not consistent with SAPD policy and training.’ he said. ‘They placed themselves in a situation where they used deadly force, which was not reasonable given all the circumstances’

After the showdown, the officers rendered first aid to Perez before paramedics arrived. She was pronounced deceased by medics, shortly after. 

The three officers were taken into custody and suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. 

Sgt. Flores is a 14-year veteran of the police force follwed by Alejandro, who has been with the department for five-years and Villalobos for two years.

The police chief said: ‘The shooting officers’ actions were not consistent with SAPD policy and training.’

McManus added: ‘They placed themselves in a situation where they used deadly force, which was not reasonable given all the circumstances.’