Man Arrested in Connection with Deadly West Side Shooting

San Antonio, TX – Armando Aaron Rodriguez Jr., 26, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Gregorio Garza, 40, on February 27th. The shooting occurred at a bus stop in the 2800 block of West Commerce Street.

Details of the Incident

According to an arrest affidavit, San Antonio police responded to a shooting at approximately 3:40 p.m. On February 27th. Upon arrival, officers found Garza lying unresponsive in the street with a gunshot wound. He was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:38 p.m. News4SanAntonio

The Arrest and Initial Account

An off-duty Dilley Police Department officer, working off-duty at a nearby Bill Miller’s restaurant, detained Rodriguez at the scene. KSAT Rodriguez initially told investigators he acted in self-defense, stating that he and Garza exchanged words both before boarding a VIA bus and again while on the bus.

Conflicting Accounts and Evidence

Rodriguez claimed that after exiting the bus, Garza grabbed his backpack and “lunged” at him, prompting him to pull out a gun and shoot. However, video evidence obtained from the VIA Metropolitan Transit bus does not support Rodriguez’s claim that Garza lunged at him. KSAT The affidavit states that Rodriguez pulled out his gun immediately after stepping off the bus and Garza followed him. Rodriguez then allegedly pointed the weapon at Garza, who began to run away before Rodriguez opened fire. News4SanAntonio

Current Status

Rodriguez was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on Sunday on a murder charge. KSAT