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San Antonio police officer fired for failing to search man who later shot himself

The 19-year-old suspect fatally shot himself with a gun hidden in his clothes during intake at the Bexar County Jail.

By Sanford Nowlin on Sat, Aug 17, 2024 at 10:26 am

Shutterstock / Schmidt_Alex

SAPD fired Officer Abdiel Munoz on July 29.

The San Antonio Police Department fired an officer for his failure to pat down a 19-year-old suspect who shot and killed himself last year at the Bexar County Jail, KSAT reports.

Officer Abdiel Munoz lost his job July 29 following an internal affairs probe, according to the TV station. Investigators found that Munoz neglected his duty and demonstrated acts of incompetency, disciplinary records cited in the story state.

SAPD launched its investigation after teen suspect Jesus Gonzales drew a pistol hidden in his clothing while being searched by a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy at the jail. Gonzales fatally shot himself in the March 3 incident.

Body-cam footage obtained by KSAT shows Munoz and other officers didn't search Gonzales after taking him into custody while serving a felony warrant at the restaurant where he worked, according to the station.

Earlier this year, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar voiced his anger about the Gonzales' death, saying there should never be a situation where a suspect makes it into the jail with a firearm, KSAT reports.

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