Another deadly theater shooting promptly stopped by armed off-duty police officer

There’s a whole theater full of people thankful that someone showed up with a gun last night to stop a possible massacre in a movie theater (via SooperMexican)

WOAI – A man was shot by an off-duty deputy after investigators say he opened fire at a South Side theater Sunday night, injuring one person.

Authorities said 19-year-old Jesus Manuel Garcia showed up at the China Garden restaurant on Southwest Military Drive around 9:30 p.m. Sunday and opened fire. Investigators say Garcia works at the restaurant and believe the shooting may have something to do with a dispute he had with his girlfriend, who also works at the restaurant. The girlfriend was not at the restaurant at the time of the shooting.

When officers arrived at the scene, Garcia had made his way into the parking lot of Mayan Palace Theatre next door where he reportedly shot at an officer. The officer was not hit. Garcia then ran inside the movie theater, and movie-goers in the lobby, bathroom, and some theaters reported hearing multiple gunshots. The gunshots caused people inside the theater to panic.

“Everybody was just coming out of the side of the theater, running out the emergency exits. And everyone was screaming and running,” a woman who was at the theater told us.

Authorities said one bystander was shot by Garcia. Garcia was finally stopped by an off-duty deputy who was working at the theater. The deputy shot Garcia four times.

“The officer involved, she took the appropriate action to try to keep everyone safe in the movie theater,” Bexar County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Detective Lou Antu said.

The injured bystander was taken to a hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

Garcia has since undergone surgery and is in stable condition at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). He has been charged with attempted capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond has been set at $10 million.


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