Man shot by police taken off life support
The San Antonio man who was shot by San Antonio police at a West Side motel this month died Sunday after he was taken off life support, the Bexar County Sheriff ’s Office said.
The family of Jose Luis Iruegas decided to remove him from life support at about 9:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
The 45-year-old was charged with two counts of terroristic threat against a peace officer after allegedly pointing a weapon at two San Antonio police officers Jan. 4. It was later determined the weapon was a BB gun.
Police released body camera footage of the incident with Iruegas last week.
Officers went to the Luxury Inn at 1404 Culebra Road at about 8:30 p.m. Jan. 4 in response to reports Iruegas was acting erratically and brandishing a firearm.
According to police, a 911 caller said Iruegas was at a nearby store with the pistol and showing it off saying “Who’s next? Who’s next?” The caller said the man then walked to the Luxury Inn. Police had been called to the motel about two hours earlier for reports of a man threatening people with a gun, but when they arrived, they did not find anyone to talk to.
During the next call to the location, body camera footage shows Officer Joshua Nicholson walk up the stairs and knock on a door on the second floor. About 10 seconds after the knock, what appears to be a handgun can be seen as Iruegas peeks around the door frame. Nicholson tells Iruegas to “drop the gun” as Iruegas raises his arm and points the weapon at the officer.
About a dozen shots can be heard as Nicholson fires at Iruegas. The body camera footage from the second officer on scene, Ryan Tovar, shows him shooting from the first floor after Nicholson yells at Iruegas.
Iruegas was hit multiple times and taken to the hospital in critical condition. His death is listed as an in-custody death as he was booked into the Bexar County jail at the time of his death.
Nicholson and Tovar, who have been with the department for over six years, were placed on administrative duty as the San Antonio Police Department’s Shooting Team and Internal Affairs Unit conducted their investigation.