San Antonio Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, March 29, 2001
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: 158
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 29, 2001
Weapon Used: Handgun; Mac-10
Suspect Info: Executed in 2011
Patrolman Hector Garza was shot and killed after responding to a domestic dispute.
Two officers were initially called to the residence at approximately 7:45 a.m. to stand guard while a resident removed possessions from the house. Officers were summoned back to the residence at approximately 8:55 a.m. for another disturbance involving the man and his wife. The two were arguing in a bedroom, and the male had his back to Patrolman Garza when he attempted to separate the two. The male suddenly spun around and shot Patrolman Garza in the head with a Mac-10 semi-automatic handgun.
The suspect then shot and killed his wife before chasing the woman's brother-in-law. After running out of ammunition, he went back into the home and got an AK-47 shot and wounded the brother-in-law, and then shot Patrolman Garza again as he lay on the ground.
The suspect was apprehended and charged with two counts of capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. The suspect's mother was also charged in connection with starting the incident that led to the murders and sentenced to one year in prison.
Patrolman Garza's killer was convicted of capital murder and subsequently executed on October 27, 2011.
Patrolman Garza had served with the San Antonio Police Department for 25 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.