Officers Face Legal Action After Fatal Shooting of Woman in Mental Health Crisis

Three San Antonio police officers have been charged with murder following the deadly shooting of 46-year-old Melissa Perez, who was reportedly undergoing a mental health crisis. The officers, Sgt. Alfred Flores, Eleazar Alejandro, and Nathaniel Villalobos, were suspended without pay and later arrested after shooting Perez when she allegedly threw a glass candlestick and later approached them with a hammer.

Police Chief William McManus stated that the officers’ actions were not in line with department protocols, asserting that the use of deadly force was unjustifiable under the circumstances. Perez had been speaking with fire officials when the confrontation began. Body camera footage shows the officers’ warnings and the tragic escalation that led to the shooting. An investigation into the officers’ actions is ongoing, with further scrutiny expected.