San Antonio Police arrested 50-year-old Manuel Espinoza following a Sunday afternoon shooting at the Westover Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center that left a 75-year-old woman dead.
An Ongoing Room Dispute Turns Fatal
According to a San Antonio Police Department report detailed by KSAT, Espinoza was visiting his mother at the West facility before 5 p.m. on Sunday when the violence erupted. The victim, identified by News 4 San Antonio as a 75-year-old woman, shared a room at the care center with Espinoza’s mother. Investigators noted that the two women had been locked in an ongoing dispute over the temperature of their shared room.
A staff member told officers she heard an argument coming from the room, though she could not understand the exchange because the individuals were speaking Spanish. Moments later, employees heard a loud noise identified as a gunshot. One worker discovered the victim bleeding inside the room and attempted life-saving first aid, but she succumbed to her wound.
Witnesses provided responding officers with a description of Espinoza as he fled the property. Police apprehended him roughly a quarter of a mile away from the nursing home. Authorities booked him into the Bexar County Jail on a murder charge, with his bond set at $200,000, according to News 4 San Antonio.
Facility Security and Suspect History
Mary Ramirez, whose uncle has resided at the center for about two months, told News 4 San Antonio that while visitors are typically buzzed in through locked doors, the entrance was found unlocked when a reporter went to the door. Facility management declined to comment when contacted by reporters regarding the shooting and existing security measures.
Court records reviewed by News 4 San Antonio reveal that Espinoza carries a violent criminal history spanning back to 1998, including prior arrests for assault, family violence, and arson. Abel Pena, a former FBI agent, noted to News 4 San Antonio that examining a suspect’s background, digital footprint, and past behavior remains critical for investigators piecing together what drove the suspect to commit the act.
In the wake of the shooting, a security guard now patrols the property, and prominent signs prohibiting weapons are posted on the front doors. Espinoza remains in custody at the Bexar County Jail as the investigation continues.
More on Manuel Espinoza
San Antonio police say Manuel Espinoza, 50, was arrested shortly after the fatal shooting Sunday afternoon. https://t.co/L7yNSdejyw
No jokes on this one. San Antonio police say a man walked in and shot a 75-year-old woman Sunday. Manuel Espinoza, 50, was arrested shortly after on a murder charge. No motive released. Presumed innocent. #CrimeTalk #TrueCrime pic.twitter.com/WUdXiCYTh6
