One man died and multiple people were injured in four separate shooting incidents in San Marcos over the Halloween weekend. Ronnie Hernandez Jr., 19, was killed in the first of two shooting incidents on the San Marcos Square. At one point over the weekend, the San Marcos Police Department had to call for mutual aid from essentially every law enforcement agency in Hays County in order to “effectively manage” the large crime scene.
During a press conference on Monday detailing all four shootings, San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said additional officers will be assigned to the Square on weekend nights when large crowds are anticipated.
Ranch Road 12 and Hughson Street Nov. 1, 1:11 a.m.
Standridge said officers arrived on scene at 1:11 a.m. on Nov. 1 after receiving multiple calls reporting gunshots. An unknown suspect or suspects fired a gun into a wooded area, and two victims reported a bullet going through their apartment; Standridge said the victims are not believed to be specifically targeted, and the motive behind the shooting is unknown. Officers seized seven bullet casings as evidence, and the case has been assigned to a detective.
Downtown Square on Hopkins Street Nov. 1, 10 p.m.
Standridge said an SMPD officer was assigned to the square to assist with the crowd and was investigating a robbery on the San Antonio Street side of the courthouse grounds when he heard multiple shots fired at 10 p.m. on Nov. 1 The officer found a male victim that had been shot outside of a bar, though Standridge did not specify which one. Within a few minutes, officers learned of another victim that had fled to the opposite side of the courthouse.
Standridge said the first officer began performing CPR on one of the victims, Ronnie Hernandez Jr., who was then transported to Christus Santa Rosa - San Marcos. Hernandez, born in 2006, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Standridge said the second victim was found inside the bar and had been shot in the stomach and shoulder. He was considered critical and taken to Ascension Seton Hays but is expected to recover.
Standridge said the third victim was shot in the forearm and waist. He was also taken to Ascension Seton Hays and expected to recover.
Standridge said the bars continued to operate, which “caused significant issues” as intoxicated patrons were coming into the marked police area and fights were being reported at various bars. SMPD made a call for assistance and were then joined by officers and deputies from DPS Air Crew, Hays County Sheriff ’s Office, Texas State University Police Department, Buda Police Department and Kyle Police Department.
Standridge then requested the bars close at 1:18 a.m., and the businesses complied. He said the firearm was found behind one of the nearby businesses. The two suspects are black males that fled in an Audi A3, which was captured on video.
“Simultaneously, calls in the rest of San Marcos continued to come in, and, at one point, we had 37 calls waiting, including some priority one calls, which necessitated two officers being dispatched within two minutes,” Standridge said. “We simply did not have enough officers to effectively manage the large crime scene, continued bar operations and calls for service.”
The city of San Marcos hosted two community meetings in October to gather public input on an ongoing Police Staffing Study.
Post Road at Outpost Apartments Nov. 2, 1:23 a.m.
Standridge said that a phone call was received at 1:23 a.m. regarding a shooting that occurred during a large fight at the Outpost Apartments pool. One person was also “pistol whipped” by a second suspect. SMPD is working to identify and arrest both suspects.
Standridge said one victim was taken to Christus Santa Rosa by friends, but blood trails at the scene suggest there may have been two victims.
Downtown at intersection of LBJ Drive and Hutchison Street Nov. 2, Approximately 1:50 a.m.
Standridge said the final incident involved shots fired in the early morning hours of Nov. 2 at LBJ Drive and Hutchison Street, only a block away from the ongoing homicide investigation.
“Officers were still on scene and investigating the first shooting,” Standridge said. “They heard the gunshots. A suspect was observed fleeing the scene. Officers chased him, tased him and took custody of Eliezer Johnson Hernandez.”
SMPD requests that anyone with additional information call (512) 753-2108.
