Officer shoots, kills man accused of threatening his wife, children

A San Antonio police officer shot and killed a man who Chief William Mcmanus said was threatening his estranged wife and children with a knife inside their home early Friday.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man as John Pena Montez, 57.

Police said Montez was armed with a knife and attempting to break down the door to a home in the 1300 block of Brighton Avenue when the officer arrived at the scene about 1:30 a.m.

Three children, ages 7, 13 and 17, were inside the home with their mother, police said.

Mcmanus said the officer could hear children screaming inside.

The officer used a stun gun on Montez after he refused to let go of the knife, Mcmanus said. But Montez nevertheless was able to get the door open and then close it behind him, according to police.

The officer, who could still hear screaming from inside the home, broke down the door to get inside, where he again used the stun gun, the chief said. But when it had only a partial effect, the “officer felt compelled to used deadly force,” Mcmanus said. The San Antonio Police Department said the officer fired two shots but did not say how many times Montez was hit. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The medical examiner's office said Montez died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Mcmanus said no one else was injured. He did not offer many details of the incident, saying he had not yet seen the body-camera footage.

The officer, who has been with the department for one year, was placed on administrative duty per department policy.