A gunman opened fire on a group of people walking down the street on the city’s East Side Monday afternoon, missing the intended targets but hitting San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor’s vehicle.
Sgt. Javier Salazar with the San Antonio Police Department said the shots, originating from inside a moving vehicle, also hit a building associated with Taylor, but did not injure anyone inside. Two people were shot in the process, though, one in the upper, and the other in the lower body.
“The two victims who were shot are not associated with the mayor and there is no information or reason to believe that Mayor Taylor, her family, her business, or personal property were the intended targets of the shooting,” Salazar said.
Taylor issued a statement Monday saying she has been reassured by police that the shooting had nothing to do with her or her family, and that she wasn't a target. “Anyone, at any time, can be touched by crime," said Taylor in the statement.
"Neither title, privilege, nor office make one immune. But that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. It’s unacceptable for gunfire to be sprayed from a car in the middle of the afternoon, or any day, at any time of the day or night. We must continue to make the investments in people and neighborhoods that will change hearts and behavior to prevent these types of shootings.”
Taylor was discouraged by the incident because of the work she’s done to curb violence in the area, in addition to working with residents and the police to form better neighborhood watches, install street lighting, and encourage the building and fostering of community relationships, to take a stand together against crime.
"Our East Side efforts continue to hold promise, but today’s incident highlights the challenges, especially for many young inner city men,” Taylor said. “In the coming weeks and months, I will be working with community members on these challenges through the ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative.”
The program is an outreach initiative by President Barack Obama to help African-American boys improve school attendance and performance, lower delinquency rates, and ultimately prevent the high incarceration rates associated with the absence of fathers in a home.
