San Antonio Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Saturday, February 3, 2001
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 1168
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 2, 2001
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 2015
Patrolman Rocky Riojas died shortly after being shot during a foot chase in a troubled apartment complex.
A struggle ensued after he caught the subject. The man was able to gain control of Officer Riojas' weapon and shot him once in the head before fleeing the scene. Other officers were in the area and responded to the gunfire.
Patrolman Riojas was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately two hours later.
The man was arrested several days later and sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on April 15th, 2015.
Patrolman Riojas had served with the San Antonio Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and two young children.