A San Antonio police officer sustained critical injuries after being shot by Jorge Chacon-Gutierrez, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national who was in the United States without legal authorization. The incident, which resulted in Chacon-Gutierrez’s death during a gunfight with officers from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), occurred after police were called to a domestic violence incident at an apartment complex on Patricia Drive around 3:15 a.m. According to reports by Fox News, the confrontation began when officers found Chacon-Gutierrez in a bedroom, armed with a rifle.
Before this fatal encounter, Chacon-Gutierrez had been taken into custody in Eagle Pass, Texas, by border officials in November 2023 for illegal entry into the country. Despite being scheduled for a court appearance, he was released from federal custody without any conditions.
During the early morning shootout, a SWAT team ultimately entered the apartment and found Chacon-Gutierrez with a gunshot wound, pronounced dead at the scene. It remains unclear whether the wound was self-inflicted or the result of police gunfire. The injured SAPD officer was hospitalised but expected to recover. The Bexar County Medical Examiner has not yet formally identified Chacon-Gutierrez.
The ongoing investigation has drawn sharp criticism from Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, who condemned the Biden administration’s immigration policies in light of the shooting. Vance highlighted the issue on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the administration’s handling of border security, particularly pointing fingers at Vice President Kamala Harris.
Immigration has become a hot-button issue in the U.S., with recent statistics showing a significant increase in border apprehensions and a public shift towards supporting reduced immigration levels and enhanced border security. This incident has further fueled the debate, amid a political landscape where immigration policy remains a deeply divisive issue.
