SAN ANTONIO — Seven police officers in San Antonio suffered injuries while responding to a call about a “suicide in progress” as they encountered a shooting by a suspect, who was later discovered deceased in an apartment, according to police reports.
The incident took place Wednesday night, and thankfully, all officers are expected to make full recoveries from their non-life threatening injuries. By Thursday afternoon, six of them had already been discharged from the hospital, as confirmed in a statement on the San Antonio police department’s Facebook page. The remaining officer, still hospitalized, has also been reported to be on the path to recovery. Details regarding the nature of the injuries have not been specified in the preliminary police report.
The encounter began when officers arrived at the apartment complex following an initial call for assistance. During their response, they received an additional report indicating that shots were fired. According to Police Chief Bill McManus, the first alert concerning the situation originated from a family member of the suspect.
Upon arrival, a woman exiting the apartment indicated that the suspect was firing shots from within and was on the verge of exiting. The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Brandon Scott Poulos, began shooting at the law enforcement officers, injuring one in the leg.
The injured officer was swiftly evacuated from the area, but Poulos retreated into the apartment and continued to fire at responding officers. Multiple officers were struck and either transported to a hospital or treated at the scene for their injuries.
A specialized SWAT team was subsequently deployed, engaging in negotiations with Poulos for several hours in hopes of reaching a peaceful resolution. Ultimately, he was found dead in the apartment. The police report has not clarified whether his death resulted from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if he was shot by a member of the SWAT team.
Earlier this year, Poulos faced arrest on January 18 due to a violation of a protection order but had been released on bail the following day.
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This article addresses serious themes related to mental health and suicide. If you or anyone you know is experiencing a crisis, support is readily available. In the United States, the national suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. Further assistance can be found through online chat services at 988lifeline.org. For those outside the U.S., additional resources for help with suicidal thoughts are available at international helpline listings.
