San Antonio's First Deadly Shooting Of 2020 Has Victim’s Neighbors Screaming For Change

The City of San Antonio logged its first shooting death of 2020 early Tuesday morning, and the victim’s neighbors want it to be the last.

The shooting that occurred at around 2 a.m. woke the residents of the Hearthstone Apartment Complex out of sound sleep. The 30-year-old victim’s name has yet to be released by the medical examiner’s office. He suffered at least one gunshot wound, from which he died a short time later.

Witnesses told police that they heard what they thought were fireworks. One of the residents came out and found the body in the parking lot and immediately called police.

ABC affiliate KSAT reports that residents of the complex, which lies in the heavily crime-plagued area of Cinnamon Creek, are saying enough is enough and are now clamoring for change and more involvement from law enforcement and community leaders.

Long-time complex resident Andrew Garner said the community has seen violence for years. “From people running, shooting at each other, to fights,” Garner said, adding that a year and a half ago, someone kicked in his door and assaulted his fiancée. “She's been beaten up, had footprints on the side of her face,” he said.

The San Antonio Police Department indicated that in the past three months, there has been one report of aggravated assault and a dozen reports of assault within 1,000 feet of the Hearthstone apartment complex. Residents have been shouting louder and louder for the apartment management company to bolster security.

When asked if there were any immediate plans to do so, the complex had no substantial comment. “Yeah, we don't have any information on that, so we’re not going to be able to comment on anything about that,” an employee responded.

Local law enforcement are asking anyone with information regarding the crime to come forward and relay what they know. In the meantime, residents of the Hearthstone Apartment Complex are bracing themselves for another year of criminal activity outside their doors and in their streets.