San Antonio, Texas — A man who allegedly threatened shoppers with a knife at a local H-E-B supermarket was fatally shot by police, authorities announced Monday. The confrontation escalated quickly, leading to the deployment of law enforcement to the grocery store located in a bustling San Antonio neighborhood.
According to police officials, the incident began when store employees called 911 after the man, later identified as 34-year-old Matthew Johnson, started behaving aggressively towards other customers and brandished a knife. Responding officers attempted to subdue Johnson using non-lethal techniques, but were unsuccessful.
Witnesses at the scene described a tense atmosphere as shoppers tried to avoid the agitated man. “Everyone was really scared,” said Maria Gomez, a shopper who witnessed the event. “He was yelling and waving the knife around, and people were just trying to get out of the way.”
When police arrived, they found Johnson still wielding the knife. Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, he reportedly advanced towards the officers. As a result, one officer, whose name has not been released, shot Johnson in what was described as a response to an immediate threat.
“This was a last-resort response,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stated during a press conference. “Our officers are trained to de-escalate such situations, but unfortunately, they sometimes have to make split-second decisions to protect lives.”
Johnson was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The shooting is currently under review, as is standard procedure for any officer-involved shooting. The officer who fired the shot has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
Community leaders have called for a thorough review of the incident, highlighting the need for continued focus on crisis intervention practices. “We must ensure our police are equipped to handle situations involving individuals with mental health issues with as little force as necessary,” said local community activist Linda Thompson.
In light of the incident, H-E-B issued a statement emphasizing the safety of their customers and employees as their top priority. The company confirmed that no other injuries were reported and thanked local law enforcement for their quick response to the potentially dangerous situation.
The incident has reignited discussions in the community about the adequacy of training for handling incidents involving potentially mentally unstable individuals. San Antonio has seen several similar incidents in recent years, prompting calls from the public and civic leaders for enhanced training and resources for mental health crisis intervention.
As the investigation continues, community members await more details and express hope for strategies that prevent such tragedies in the future. The police department has announced plans to review and possibly revise their protocols regarding the handling of individuals in crisis, in an attempt to better protect both the community and individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.