Shot sergeant’s survival ‘just a miracle’
Balcones Heights police chief praises partner who used EMT training to help save the fallen officer
SAN ANTONIO — The fact that Sgt. Jose “Joey” Sepulveda is still alive is nothing short of a “miracle,” Balcones Heights Police Chief John Jahanara said.
On Feb. 3, Sepulveda was shot while investigating reports of a burglary in progress at the SOL Apartments in San Antonio, Jahanara said.
The 18-year-veteran of the force approached two men whom maintenance workers thought they recognized from burglaries that occurred at the complex, the chief said.
The brothers, whom police identified later as Wilfredo and Sijifredo Montemayor, were flippant with Sepulveda, 49, so he drew his stun gun and ordered them out of the vehicle, court records state.
Wilfredo Montemayor allegedly fired a shot at Sepulveda from the back seat less than 5 feet away. The sergeant was hit just as he spun around to retreat, police said. The bullet went through his chin, his collarbone, and became lodged in the back of his shoulder, Jahanara said. As Sepulveda raised his arms to shield himself, a second shot grazed his arm.
His partner, officer Edgard Ortiz, exchanged shots with the men before they fled. He then dragged Sepulveda to a police-issued Chevrolet Tahoe and applied a tourniquet before rushing him to Methodist Hospital Texsan.
After he was stabilized, Sepulveda was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. On Feb. 7, he awoke after one last procedure.
The chief informed him that both brothers had been arrested, one in Mexico and the other in San Antonio.
“It's just a miracle,” Jahanara said, recalling that Sepulveda had lost a lot of blood. Hospital staff told the chief that time was of the essence.
On the night of Feb. 11, Sepulveda was released from the medical center.
The chief said he was still trying to figure out how many awards he can submit for Ortiz, who happened to be working ahead of his scheduled evening shift. Ortiz, who has been with the department for more than a year, also has five years of experience as an EMT.
“Joey might not be alive today if we had waited for EMS to arrive and transport him,” he said.
The brothers remain in the Bexar County Jail on charges of attempted capital murder of a police officer with bail set at $1 million for Wilfredo Montemayor and $500,000 for Sijifredo Montemayor.