Mother of woman inadvertently shot and killed by San Antonio police sues city

The mother of a woman slain by San Antonio police officers in 2021 is suing the city and its police department for wrongful death.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in San Antonio, argues that officers violated 29-year-old Neida Tijerina’s civil rights during a standoff at an apartment building when they inadvertently shot and killed her while on a domestic disturbance call.

In the aftermath of the shooting, police said they were instead aiming at Tijerina’s common-law husband Angel Sanchez, who had allegedly taken her hostage. Tijerina’s children were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, which San Antonio Police Chief William McManus called “an extremely tragic event for all involved.”

SAPD officials didn’t responded to a request for comment on the suit.

Two years after the shooting, Tijerina’s mother, Maria Tijerina, is asking for a jury to be impaneled to decide whether she’s entitled to damages. She alleges that city leaders including McManus and Mayor Ron Nirenberg “failed to properly train, supervise, screen, discipline, transfer, counsel or otherwise control officers in the use of excessive deadly force.”

Tijerina is the administrator of her daughter’s estate in addition to being the guardian of her four minor children. In addition to the city and McManus, the suit includes unnamed police officers involved in the shooting among the defendants. 

Sanchez is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for his role in the incident.

Tijerina’s suit comes weeks after the four children of Melissa Perez sued the city over the police shooting of their 46-year-old mother. Last month, SAPD suspended three officers and charged them with murder for fatally shooting Perez while she was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed

Related Stories

Three San Antonio police officers charged with murder after shooting, killing woman in her apartment

Sgt. Alfred Flores and Officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos are now in custody and suspended without pay.

Family of San Antonio woman gunned down by SAPD plans to file civil suit against the city

All three officers involved in the shooting have been arrested and charged with murder, SAPD Chief William McManus said.

San Antonio police officer fired for chasing, shooting at car-theft suspect while off duty

Officer Miguel Leal was suspended indefinitely without pay on March 21, paperwork shows.

San Antonio police personnel fired, suspended over Melissa Perez death

An SAPD lieutenant has been fired and a sergeant slapped with a seven-day suspension over accusations they left duty early the night officers shot and killed Perez inside her apartment.

This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 8, 2023.