SAN ANTONIO, TX – A night of celebration took a deadly turn at the Fiesta de los Reyes in San Antonio’s Market Square when two men opened fire on each other. Responding to the incident, police officers at the scene also fired their weapons.
The gunfight led to the deaths of both men involved and left several bystanders injured. Initially, the police reported six injuries, but the number was later revised to four. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
The incident has raised concerns about public safety at such events. An anonymous regular attendee of the Fiesta expressed his worry, stating that the event, which was traditionally a family gathering, has become increasingly risky. The man, who was at the square waiting for a concert when the shooting occurred, is now reconsidering his future attendance.
Jaime Herrejon, a vendor at Market Square for half a century, shares similar concerns. He fears that this incident and others may deter people from attending future celebrations. He recalled a recent incident at the same event where two officers were injured while attempting to control fights in the crowd.
Despite rumors of tear gas being used to disperse the crowd, the San Antonio Police Department has denied these claims, without providing additional details. Herrejon stressed the need for stricter safety measures to prevent weapons from entering the event, suggesting the use of metal detectors or wands for security checks.
City officials, event organizers, and vendors are expected to discuss potential safety enhancements for the event. However, Herrejon noted that vendors have rejected past suggestions, such as fencing off the area.
Attempts to reach Jacob Valenzuela, the executive director of Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation, which oversees Fiesta de los Reyes, for comments on potential changes for next year have so far been unsuccessful.