SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police have apprehended a suspect involved in a shooting incident at North Star Mall earlier this week.
Edwardo Sanchez, Jr, 52, is facing three charges of aggravated robbery in relation to the incident.
According to authorities, Sanchez was one of three individuals who were shoplifting in Macy’s on Halloween night. When confronted by security guards, Sanchez allegedly shot one of them, a 29-year-old female guard, in the leg. The other male and female suspects managed to escape.
After the struggle, Sanchez fled to the parking lot, where he temporarily left the store. He then returned to retrieve some dropped clothing, possibly in search of his car keys. A witness, armed with a firearm, confronted Sanchez, who subsequently fled the scene without the keys.
The police located a vehicle in the parking lot, which contained the jacket worn by Sanchez during the robbery, along with a magazine for a semi-automatic handgun.
Investigators positively identified Sanchez as the shooter and secured a warrant for his arrest.
A Facebook post by the police reveals that Sanchez confessed to the crime after being taken into custody in the early hours of Friday.
Court records indicate that Sanchez has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1988. At the time of the North Star Mall incident, he was out on bail for charges including driving under the influence and drug possession, stemming from an arrest on October 18.
This Halloween night shooting marks the third gunfire-related incident to occur on the mall’s premises within a span of six months.
In June, Adam Glass, 33, was shot and killed while inside a barbershop at the mall.
Approximately a month later, two suspects fleeing after committing a robbery shot out a glass door to make their escape.
Lindsay Kahn, spokesperson for North Star’s parent company Brookfield Properties, referred to all three incidents as “isolated.” She issued the following statement:
“We are saddened by this incident, which directly resulted from the apprehension of a retail theft suspect, occurring at our property. Unfortunately, we are not immune to the rising property crime rates in our community. We will continue to evaluate our security protocols to ensure that North Star remains a safe and cherished place for the community. As this incident unfolded within Macy’s, we suggest reaching out to Macy’s and the San Antonio Police Department for further information.”
When asked about plans to enhance mall security, such as implementing metal detectors, Kahn stated during a phone interview that the company already maintains a strong security program in collaboration with the SAPD. However, she added that they continuously review and evaluate security measures.
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