advertisement

Man arrested in San Antonio bar shooting argues self-defense

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A 19-year-old man arrested in a San Antonio shooting that left two people dead and wounded five others said he was acting in self-defense when he opened fire during a concert at a bar.

Kiernan Christopher Williams is expected to face capital murder charges for the Sunday night shooting at Ventura on the Museum Reach portion of the San Antonio River Walk, police said Monday.

As Williams was taken into custody Monday, he promoted his own Instagram account and described himself as 'œan upcoming artist.'ť

He told reporters that another person threatened to kill him because Williams had bumped into him at the bar.

'œI regret everything that I did, no lie,'ť Williams said.

Jail records do not list an attorney who could speak on Williams' behalf.

The medical examiner's office identified the men killed as Robert Martinez and Alejandro Robles, police said. A 46-year-old woman and four male teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were hurt but are expected to survive their injuries, police said.

Police have said the shooting was 'œnot a random incident'ť and that at least one of the seven victims knew Williams.

'œIt's nothing more complicated than an argument that occurred inside the club with someone pulling out a firearm,'ť San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Sunday night.

Robles, who was killed in the shooting, had gone to Ventura with his wife to support a childhood friend who was performing that night, family members told the San Antonio Express-News. His father, James Huff, said he did not believe his son knew Williams.

A since-deleted Facebook event indicated Sunday night's concert at the Ventura was 'œLiving the DREAM,'ť a showcase featuring multiple performers, and the Express-News reported that a flyer listed Williams as one of the scheduled performers. An email to the apparent promoters wasn't immediately returned.

It was not the only shooting at an entertainment venue Sunday night. Two people were shot and killed and at least 15 were injured in a shooting outside a bar in Kansas City, Missouri, just before midnight. Police believe the shooter is one of the two who was killed.

In this image made from video provided by KSAT, San Antonio police officers work near the scene of a deadly shooting at the Ventura, a music venue in San Antonio, Texas, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. Texas authorities says at least a few people were killed and several others were injured following the shooting during the concert inside the club. (KSAT via AP) The Associated Press
In this image made from video provided by KSAT, San Antonio police officers work the scene of a deadly shooting at the Ventura, a music venue in San Antonio, Texas, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. Texas authorities says at least a few people were killed and several others were injured following the shooting during the concert inside the club. (KSAT via AP) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.