SAPD: San Antonio cop who died this week committed suicide, was under investigation

After first reporting that the fatal self-shooting of one of its officers was an accident, San Antonio police now says the man committed suicide, adding that he was under criminal investigation by authorities in the South Texas town of Rockport.

In a statement released Thursday, SAPD said officials initially thought Officer William Kasberg’s death two days earlier was an accident. However, they learned that the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office plans to rule it a suicide.

“SAPD’s investigation has also discovered evidence to support the medical examiner’s ruling,” the statement continues. “It appears that Kasberg used a personally owned handgun to commit this act.”

SAPD also said the Rockport Police Department was investigating Kasberg, a 30-year SAPD veteran, for an incident that occurred in that department’s jurisdiction.

In a separate statement emailed to the Current, the Rockport police said they are looking into allegations that Kasberg, while off duty, made an invasive video recording of his girlfriend while she used the bathroom of a hotel the family stayed in while on a visit to the coastal town.

Rockport detectives contacted Kasberg about the allegations Dec. 9, and he agreed to speak with them in person, according to the statement. Authorities in Rockport learned of Kasberg’s death the following morning.

“The Rockport Police Department, with the assistance of the Texas Rangers, notified the San Antonio Police Department of our investigation,” the statement continues. “Our investigation is ongoing, and no other information is available at this time.”

During a Tuesday press conference, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Kasberg was believed to have died after accidentally shooting himself with his service pistol, KSAT reports. At the time, the officer was preparing to enter a state-mandated training session.

Kasberg was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital, according to McManus, who told KSAT the incident was a “terrible, terrible tragic accident.”
In its Thursday statement, SAPD said its investigation remains active, meaning officials won’t release further details.

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This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2024.