San Antonio Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, May 18, 1972
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 773
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 18, 1972
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 1000 years
Patrolman Tony Canales was killed by a shotgun blast to the chest during a traffic stop attempting to question two possible robbery suspects on Frio City Road.
The suspects had recently robbed a service station when Patrolman Canales pulled them over. As Patrolman Canales approached the driver's side of the vehicle, he was shot in the chest. The suspects attempted to flee but crashed their car after Patrolman Canales returned fire. One of the subjects was arrested at the scene. The second subject fled but was arrested, hiding under a nearby house several days later.
Patrolman Canales was transported to the Santa Rosa Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds three hours later.
The suspects, 22 and 28, were charged with murder.
On May 14, 1973, one suspect was sentenced to 10,000 years in prison. The judge said it was his protest against the absence of the death penalty.
Patrolman Canales had served with the San Antonio Police Department for two years. He was survived by his expectant wife and two children. His son was born after his death and became a Deputy Sheriff with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.