By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-08 05:11:56 | Updated at 2025-01-08 22:06:23
17 hours ago
A Texas police officer was caught on camera shooting a man 15 times during a pursuit, after he confronted the man about jaywalking across the street.
But San Antonio police say Jeffrey Schopp, 33, died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, KENS 5 reports.
The incident began on December 3 when Police Officer James Lopez caught Schopp crossing the street at Loop 410 and Jones Maltsberger Road without using the crosswalk - which is a Class C misdemeanor in Texas, punishable by up to a $200 fine.
In body camera footage released by the San Antonio Police Department, Lopez could be seen parking his police vehicle and confronting Schopp, who was carrying a backpack.
The officer tells Schopp to walk toward him, at which point Schopp becomes defensive.
'I'm not doing all that, man,' he said as he sat on the railing. 'Am I under arrest?'
'You're detained right now,' Lopez replies. 'Walk over here.'
When Schopp then asked why he was being detained, Lopez replies it is 'for crossing the street without a crosswalk.'
Body camera footage shows the moment San Antonio Police Officer James Lopez confronted Jeffrey Schopp, 33, for jaywalking
San Antonio police now say Schopp died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head
Schopp then apologized to the officer, claiming he had to get to the hospital for an arm injury.
But Lopez seemed to get even more irritated, raising his voice, as he said, 'I ain't looking for an apology. Come over here right now before I put you in handcuffs.'
Still, Schopp continued to apologize - apparently making Lopez even angrier.
'I ain't listening to that s***,' the officer shot back. 'Come here. Come over here now.'
At that point, Schopp dropped his backpack and ran across the street, into a parking garage as Lopez gave chase.
At least two other officers then heard Lopez report the chase on the radio, and joined in on the bizarre pursuit, as Schopp could be seen hopping a fence.
He eventually ended up in a drainage ditch, where the officers were able to close in on him.
'Get the f*** on the ground,' Lopez yelled at Schopp as he approached.
'I'm going to f*** you up,' the officer warns. 'You're going to get Tased bro. I'm going to f***ing Tase you.'
Lopez and other officers gave chase after Schopp fled the scene and ran into a drainage ditch
Schopp ran underneath a bridge, where he apparently pulled out a gun
But Schopp ran underneath a bridge, where he apparently pulled out a gun.
That is when Lopez fired 12 times, yelling, 'He has a f***ing gun!'
After firing a dozen times, Lopez had to reload his gun, while Schopp appeared on the other side of the bridge in the drainage ditch.
Another officer could then be heard yelling, 'Drop the gun,' but it does not appear as if they fired their gun.
Lopez, on the other hand, fired an additional three times - which is when Schopp could be seen falling to the ground.
The San Antonio Police Department claimed in the aftermath that Lopez feared for the safety of the other cops nearby when he fired his service weapon.
San Antonio police noted that a .22-caliber handgun was recovered from the scene
It initially said Schopp was killed after he was struck in the chest.
But following an investigation into the police-involved shooting, the police department maintains that Schopp died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A .22-caliber handgun was recovered from the scene, officers noted.
Still, Lopez, who has been a member of the San Antonio police force for four years, has been placed on paid administrative leave as the Bexar County District Attorney's Office conducts its own investigation, according to Texas Public Radio.
An autopsy report likely will not be available for at least six weeks, per the district attorney's standard timeline to complete reports.
The deadly encounter marked the 20th San Antonio police department shooting in 2024.
