San Antonio Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Friday, September 21, 2007
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 2459
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 21, 2007
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Detective Mario Moreno was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a suspect who had shot his girlfriend the previous day.
The detective, along with other officers assigned to the Repeat Offender Program, went to an apartment complex at the 7200 block of Lamb Road where the suspect was hiding. With the assistance of the shooting victim, the suspect was lured out into the parking lot. When the suspect spotted the officers, he fled on foot, with Detective Moreno in close pursuit. During the chase, the suspect drew a shotgun and opened fire, striking Detective Moreno in the face. Other officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
He was transported to University Hospital but died from his wounds a short time later.
Detective Moreno was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the San Antonio Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and two young children.