Executive Summary
- A four-hour SWAT standoff in San Antonio ensued after a maintenance worker was robbed at gunpoint.
- Police utilized flash-bangs and tear gas to extract two suspects barricaded in a vacant apartment.
- Michael Aguirre and David Thurston were arrested and face charges ranging from aggravated robbery to criminal trespass.
Two suspects were taken into custody Thursday afternoon in San Antonio, Texas, following a four-hour SWAT standoff that began when a maintenance worker was robbed at gunpoint, according to local authorities.
San Antonio Police Department officers responded to the 3500 block of Pin Oak Drive near the Medical Center around 11 a.m. after receiving reports of an armed robbery. A maintenance worker at the apartment complex told police he was accosted by two or three assailants while working at a vacant property.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officials determined that the suspects had barricaded themselves inside an apartment unit. Consequently, a SWAT team was deployed to the scene, establishing a mobile command center and utilizing heavy-duty vehicles to secure the perimeter near Fredericksburg Road and Loop 410.
During the operation, officers utilized megaphones to communicate with the barricaded individuals. Police confirmed the use of flash-bangs and tear gas to force the suspects to exit the unit. The standoff concluded when officers successfully detained the two men.
Authorities identified the suspects as Michael Aguirre, 53, and David Thurston, 53. Aguirre is charged with aggravated robbery, criminal trespass, and evading arrest, with bail set at $67,500. Thurston faces charges of criminal trespass and evading arrest, with a bond of $3,500; police noted he has not been charged in connection with the initial robbery.
Both men are currently held at the Bexar County jail and are scheduled for arraignment on March 2. Police stated on Thursday that the investigation remains active as they continue to search for potential additional suspects involved in the initial confrontation.
Investigative Outlook
The deployment of specialized tactical units highlights the operational protocols required for armed barricade situations in residential zones. While the immediate threat to the Medical Center area has been resolved, law enforcement efforts are now pivoted toward locating outstanding suspects described by the victim. The successful apprehension without injury underscores the effectiveness of the containment strategies employed, though the focus now shifts to the prosecutorial phase. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
