MURDER INK November
MURDERS THIS MONTH: 4
MURDERS THIS YEAR: 67

November 1
6:18 a.m.A wanted man was shot and killed by police in a stand-off that lasted more than three hours. Shortly after 6 p.m., police were dispatched to an apartment complex at 140 Babcock Road with a felony parole violation warrant for Henry Cruz, 29, but he refused to answer the door. Cruz told officers that "he was not going back to jail and that we would have to come and get him" and displayed a firearm through the window. After a few tense hours, Cruz came out of the apartment with a gun to his head. Ignoring their commands, Cruz walked rapidly toward officers and was fatally shot in the abdomen and upper leg. He was pronounced dead at 9:46 p.m. SAPD later justified killing Cruz because he "threatened to commit an offense involving violence by placing the public in fear of serious bodily injury and influenced the activities of the SAPD." [MORE]

MURDER INK October
MURDERS THIS MONTH: 4
MURDERS THIS YEAR: 67

October 25
2:15 a.m.A Halloween party was cut short by the death of 29-year-old Edward Buentello at the 10300 block of Cedarbend Drive. According to partygoers, a group of unwanted guests arrived at the residence, an argument took place over the last of the beer, and a homeowner asked the group to leave. A man in his mid-20s approached Buentello and stabbed him in the left torso. As Buentello dropped to the ground, a witness went for the suspect but was struck in the face by a female accomplice and the group fled the scene. Police have not made any arrests, but are investigating a possible link between the suspects and Element Tattoo Studio because of flyers they brought to the party. [MORE]

MURDER INK SEPTEMBER
MURDERS THIS MONTH: 4
MURDERS THIS YEAR: 67

September 24
7:40 p.m.UTSA director of publications Elton Smith, 61, was killed by his son Thursday evening at the family's home in the 25400 block of North Saddle Trail in Leon Springs. The victim's wife (and suspect's mother) called police to report that the father and son had been arguing, the son had been drinking, and she had just witnessed the shooting. Elton Smith was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. 34-year-old Kristopher Lee Smith, a UTSA student, was charged with murdering his father and assaulting his mother, who he kicked in the stomach. "Intoxicated and incoherent," he attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended. Kristopher was transported to University Hospital for alcohol-related medical treatment and held on a $255,000 bond.p>

September 24
3:48 p.m. Police were dispatched to the 12200 block of Maverick Bluff on Thursday in response to a call made by a neighbor who found the body. Upon arrival, officers found 31-year-old Evaristo Sierra on the floor right inside the front door of his residence with an execution-style gunshot wound to his head. Concerned that he was not answering his phone, Sierra's girlfriend asked her sister to check his house where she found the door unlocked, the house ransacked, and the victim's body face down on the floor. When questioned, his neighbors did not report hearing or seeing anything unusual. No arrests have been made, and police do not yet have any leads on possible suspects, but are treating Sierra's death as a homicide. [MORE]

MURDER INK AUGUST
MURDERS THIS MONTH: 5
MURDERS THIS YEAR: 67

August 30
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Saturday, August 1
3:11 p.m. An argument that turned violent on the 1300 block of Thorain Boulevard ended with the death of 19-year-old Marcos Cervantes. He was shot in the chest outside of his home before he stumbled and fell at his doorstep. Friends gathered around Cervantes while EMS arrived to help. Cervantes was declared dead at the scene a half hour later. A murder arrest warrant has been issued for Moses Vela for this crime.

Sunday, August 2
9:32 p.m. Store owner Mohammed Omar was shot and killed during an attempted robbery of the Sky Line Food Mart on the 4400 block of Rockdale. Police arrested 27-year-old Keith Dwayne Evans and 19-year-old Theodore Joyner for the murder. Omar was pronounced dead at the scene [MORE]