Following recent gun violence at San Antonio's Fiesta, Police Chief William McManus has announced an increase in security measures at next year's Market Square events. According to KENS 5, McManus stated, "You can be assured you will be checked for weapons as you walk in." The assurance comes after a midnight shootout at this year's festivities left two young men dead and others injured.
The incident, which occurred just after midnight on Saturday, involved a conflict between two individuals, resulting in their deaths. Law enforcement officials, present on the scene, engaged and fatally shot one of the men. McManus described the shooting as an isolated incident between two individuals who had some sort of beef, as he told News 4 San Antonio. The planned security overhaul emphasizes tighter controls and weapon checks for those entering the event in the future.
The prompt response to toughening security follows a comparable incident last year where a young man was also shot during Fiesta at Market Square. "What that looks like right now, we're not quite sure but we will discuss that and have it in place by next year," McManus said, emphasizing the certainty of the security upgrade in a statement obtained by News 4 San Antonio.
SAPD has pledged to supervise and secure the festivities thoroughly, promising controlled entry and screening for weapons. "From start to finish, there will be controlled ingress. We will check people coming in for weapons,” the police chief reiterated, according to an interview with News 4 San Antonio. McManus assured that any measures would be applied carefully, ensuring the safety of fiesta-goers remains a top priority.
The local community and district leaders have begun discussing potential changes, such as adjusting event hours or introducing ticketed entry to further ensure public safety. “We have to debate what that would be for families who truly just want to be and experience Fiesta at no costs, so we’ll be looking at all options," District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur told KENS 5.
