News >> Browse Articles >> Crime News

Four SWAT Officers Shot During TX Drug Raid

William Carroll is walked to a police cruiser after processing at police headquarters on Nov. 11. Carroll allegedly shot four police officers serving a drug-related warrant in the afternoon. [AP]

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Four San Antonio SWAT officers executing a narcotics search warrant at an East Side home were wounded in a hail of assault rifle fire Thursday afternoon.

One was in critical condition and underwent surgery late in the day, Brooke Army Medical Center spokesman Dewey Mitchell said. He said another was in serious but stable condition.

Both were struck multiple times after entering a home in the 4300 block of Wild Oak Drive, Police Chief William McManus said.

The other two suffered lesser injuries and were taken to University Hospital, where they were treated and released.

The more seriously hurt were officers with 30 years of police work between them. A police spokesman identified them as Lt. Jorge Suarez and Officer John Diaz.

William Carroll, 29, was charged with four counts of attempted capital murder, police spokesman Chris Benavides said.

As he was hustled out of police headquarters on his way to jail, Carroll told reporters that he didn’t know he was shooting at police and said he was sorry for firing at them.

The officers were wearing protective vests and helmets labeled POLICE, Benavides said.

McManus said Carroll, who was being booked into Bexar County Jail, had been charged with murder twice before. He also served time in federal prison on a narcotics conviction, Benavides said.

Police records indicate a grand jury no-billed the murder charge against Carroll in one case; the second charge was dismissed, Benavides said.

The dates of those incidents weren’t immediately available.

At the scene, McManus said he counted at least 14 bullet holes from gunshots fired from inside the home as he described how the SWAT team tried to breach the front door shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The officers conducted a “no-knock” search, and once inside the home, were met by a fusillade of gunfire, McManus said.

The chief said the officers returned fire but didn’t hit any of the people inside — which included a woman and a small child.

It was not immediately clear who lived at the home, police said.

The SWAT team was at the small frame home to serve what McManus described as a high-risk warrant — searching for narcotics. It wasn’t immediately clear if narcotics were recovered.

It was a chaotic scene in the tree-lined, working-class neighborhood as more than 20 patrol vehicles converged on the scene not far from the Interstate 10 East intersection with Southeast Loop 410.

McManus said the most seriously wounded officer was Suarez, an 18-year veteran of the force, who was hit twice. One of the bullets that struck him traveled under his vest and became lodged in his midsection, the chief said.

Diaz was was hit in the abdomen, cheek and shoulder.

Late Thursday, Benavides said both were expected to make a full recovery.