Patrolman Hector Garza, San Antonio Police Department, Texas

Patrolman Hector Garza

San Antonio Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Thursday, March 29, 2001

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Hector Garza

Patrolman Hector Garza was shot and killed after responding to a domestic dispute.

Two officers were initially called to the residence at approximately 7:45 a.m. to stand guard while a resident removed possessions from the house. Officers were summoned back to the residence at approximately 8:55 a.m. for another disturbance involving the man and his wife. The two were arguing in a bedroom, and the male had his back to Patrolman Garza when he attempted to separate the two. The male suddenly spun around and shot Patrolman Garza in the head with a Mac-10 semi-automatic handgun.

The suspect then shot and killed his wife before chasing the woman's brother-in-law. After running out of ammunition, he went back into the home and got an AK-47 shot and wounded the brother-in-law, and then shot Patrolman Garza again as he lay on the ground.

The suspect was apprehended and charged with two counts of capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. The suspect's mother was also charged in connection with starting the incident that led to the murders and sentenced to one year in prison.

Patrolman Garza's killer was convicted of capital murder and subsequently executed on October 27, 2011.

Patrolman Garza had served with the San Antonio Police Department for 25 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.

Bio

Age 48
Tour 25 years
Badge 158

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Mac-10
Offender Executed in 2011

domestic

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My father's name is Travis Phillips. He did twenty-two years with SAPD. He retired in 2014. My father has told me that Hector was an amazing individual. My father told me that He and Hector would get together for lunch while on duty and that Hector had always been very kind to him. He told me that Hector was a strong Christian and that is why they were friends. There were few Christians on the department so naturally they became good friends. My dad said that they used to work the same area, the West side of San Antonio. The night the incident happened my dad had taken a couple days off for holiday or might have gotten sick. Hector covered for him. My dad fears that if He had been the one working that night that he might have been the one who made the call instead of Hector. My dad believes that God protected him from that night. It is unknown why God took Hector to Heavan instead of my father that night and we will never truly know. I found this website and remembered the stories that my dad had told me of guys who died that he worked with. I remembered their names and found Hector here. I'm not sure if anyone who knew Hector will see this. If you do know that my father loved Hector and that his name is still alive and talked about to this day.

Kyle Phillips
My father was an SAPD officer who knew Hector Garza

April 13, 2025