On July 16, 2023, Officer Joseph Warren of the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) shot and killed Adrian San Martin. Following the incident, Adrian’s mother, Raquel San Martin, filed a federal lawsuit alleging wrongful death and excessive use of deadly force.
Official Account from the Texas Attorney General’s In-Custody Death Report
According to the Texas Attorney General’s In-Custody Death Report, the San Antonio Police Department received information that Adrian, described as a fugitive wanted for violent felonies, was present at a specific location. Covert detectives surveilled the area for several hours, confirming Adrian’s presence. When Adrian entered his vehicle, covert detectives—clearly identified by ballistic vests marked “Police”—approached him and issued verbal commands to surrender.
The official report states that Adrian immediately fled on foot. During this pursuit, detectives observed that Adrian was holding a handgun in his right hand. This information was communicated to additional detectives and uniformed officers assisting with the apprehension.
As the chase continued, two uniformed officers in an unmarked patrol vehicle arrived to assist. The report notes Adrian continued fleeing, allegedly waving his gun in his right hand and heading towards an open public area. Due to perceived threats to themselves and public safety, both officers drew their weapons. The officers claimed Adrian pointed the handgun toward them, prompting the officer in the driver’s seat, Officer Warren, to fire two rounds, striking Adrian.
Officers immediately provided emergency medical assistance until EMS arrived, and Adrian was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Lawsuit’s Account and Allegations
According to the lawsuit, Adrian was wanted on outstanding warrants, but was not suspected of committing a violent or felony offense on the day of the shooting. The complaint insists that Adrian never pointed or threatened officers or civilians with his handgun, arguing instead that body camera footage supports their claim that Adrian did not pose a threat warranting deadly force.
The lawsuit details the moment when Officer Warren, driving an unmarked police vehicle, entered the field and shot Adrian through the windshield without providing any warnings or verbal commands. The complaint explicitly emphasizes discrepancies between Officer Warren’s account and the video evidence, alleging fabrication to justify the shooting.
Officer Warren’s Professional Background
Officer Joseph Warren has served in law enforcement since October 2014. According to records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), Warren initially served with the Snyder Police Department from October 2014 to June 2016. He then briefly joined the Austin Independent School District Police Department, serving from August 2016 to June 2017. Warren joined the San Antonio Police Department on March 16, 2018, where he remains employed.
Evidence from Body Camera Footage
The lawsuit references body camera footage purportedly showing Adrian running with his gun pointed downward and clearly visible to the officers. The footage reportedly demonstrates that Adrian never aimed or threatened anyone with the weapon. Additionally, the footage captures Adrian running past multiple bystanders without any aggressive or threatening behavior, further supporting the claim that deadly force was unnecessary.
Adrian’s Injuries and Death
After being shot, Adrian immediately collapsed and remained alive for approximately 45 minutes, enduring considerable pain before succumbing to his injuries at a local hospital. The lawsuit explicitly underscores this prolonged suffering period as part of its claim for damages.
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