Sheriff Explains Why Bexar County Deputies Opened Fire on an Unarmed Suspect — Leaving 6-year-old Boy Dead

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is still searching for the alleged gun deputies say they saw on a suspect before fatally shooting her Thursday afternoon — a shooting that also left a 6-year-old boy dead. 

The delay has raised questions over whether the deputies fire was warranted.

Amanda Lenee Jones, who BCSO believed had stolen a car Thursday morning, led five deputies on a 2-hour-long chase through and around Cibolo Creek before ending up at the Pecan Grove Manufactured Home Community in Schertz. During this chase, deputies allege they saw Jones wielding a handgun.

Once Jones reached the mobile home park, the 30-year-old woman allegedly broke into a trailer occupied by 6-year-old Kameron Prescott and two of his family members (one adult, one minor). According to Sheriff Javier Salazar, they also thought they saw Jones holding a gun. Jones then ran outside to the front porch, only to be confronted by the group of deputies.

Four of the five deputies opened fire on Jones, killing her instantly. One of their bullets also shot through the mobile home's wall and fatally wounded Kameron. Salazar said the deputies had believed the trailer was empty, but did not physically check inside before opening fire.

"In my opinion, it's a tragic accident that lead to the death of this young man," said Salazar at a Friday press conference. He said that Kameron's grandfather, a peace officer, is a close friend.


According to Salazar, all four deputies believed Jones was holding a gun when they shot her — yet there was no weapon found on her body. What deputies did find, however, was a "tubular object" with some of Jones' blood on it in a gap between the porch and the trailer.

"Some sort of dark-colored pipe that very well could look like a gun barrel," Salazar explained.

The four deputies have been put on administrative leave for five days.

Salazar still trusts the deputies saw an actual handgun on Jones at some point in the chase. Deputies and investigators from the District Attorney's office are actively searching the woods and Cibolo Creek for the gun.

Only one of the five deputies was wearing a body camera — and Salazar said the lens was blocked during the actual shooting. Salazar said that's because BSCO is still testing a new camera system.