Roberta Aguirre
On April 15, 2021, a mass shooting was prevented at San Antonio International Airport by a park police officer who stopped an active shooter and prevented him from injuring or killing anyone. The suspect, 46-year-old Joe Gomez, was a veteran with a history of arrests, including charges related to substance abuse. He drove the wrong way into Terminal B and began shooting at the officer and the terminal. The officer returned fire, incapacitating Gomez, who then shot and killed himself. Two people were injured in the incident, but not seriously.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Joe Gomez |
| Age | 46 |
| Military background | M249 Squad Automatic Weapon gunner in the 187th Infantry Regiment |
| Criminal history | Attempting to elude police (charge dismissed), possession of marijuana (20 days in jail) |
| Ammunition | ".45-caliber handgun, "a lot of ammunition" or "a full box of ammunition" |
| Target | Terminal B at San Antonio International Airport |
| Date | April 15, 2021 |
| Time | Approximately 2:30 pm |
| Outcome | Shooter killed himself after being shot and injured by police |
| Casualties | Two injured (one by shrapnel, one by sprained ankle while fleeing) |
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What You'll Learn
The shooter was a 46-year-old man named Joe Gomez
On April 15, 2021, 46-year-old Joe Gomez opened fire at the San Antonio International Airport in Texas. He was confronted by a park police officer, 41-year-old John Maines, outside the arrivals area of Terminal B. Gomez immediately got out of his car and began shooting at the officer and the terminal. Maines returned fire, incapacitating Gomez. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead; it was reported that he shot and killed himself after being shot at by Maines.
Maines was credited with halting what San Antonio Police Chief William McManus called "the start of an active shooter situation" or a potential "mass shooting." McManus said that the officer's quick actions saved lives, as the shooter had a lot of ammunition and was firing indiscriminately. Two people were injured, one by shrapnel and another by the flood of people attempting to flee the area. Neither injury was considered serious, and no officers were hurt.
Gomez had a history of arrests, with his trouble with the law stretching back decades and largely involving substance abuse. He had served in the 187th Infantry Regiment as an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon gunner. A vehicle believed to be owned by Gomez had a disabled veteran license plate with the image of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
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Gomez had a history of arrests and mental health issues
The San Antonio airport shooter, Joe Gomez, had a history of arrests and mental health issues. Police Chief William McManus said that the police were familiar with Gomez due to previous interactions and that he had "mental issues".
Gomez's Facebook page stated that he served in the 187th Infantry Regiment as an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon gunner, often referred to as a SAW. Officials at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the Army at the Pentagon, and the National Personnel Records Center did not respond to requests for information about Gomez's service history.
Gomez's troubles with the law dated back decades and were largely related to substance abuse, according to court records. In 1999, he was arrested on a charge of attempting to elude police, although the charge was later dismissed. In 2007, Gomez was arrested again, this time for possession of marijuana, and was sentenced to 20 days in jail.
The San Antonio Police Department released surveillance video from the incident, which showed Gomez driving against traffic and immediately opening fire towards the airport and nearby vehicles upon exiting his car. Thanks to the quick actions of a park police officer, John Maines, who was working overtime, Gomez was incapacitated before he could injure or kill anyone. Maines's shots were non-lethal, and Gomez ultimately shot and killed himself.
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He drove the wrong way into the airport terminal
On April 15, 2021, the San Antonio International Airport was evacuated due to an active shooter. The suspect, later identified as 46-year-old Joe Gomez, drove into the airport terminal going the wrong way at about 2:30 p.m.
Gomez, who had a history of arrests, was confronted by a park police officer, 41-year-old John Maines, who was working overtime. Maines noticed Gomez driving against traffic on the lower level of the airport's pick-up and drop-off area and towards him.
Gomez parked his vehicle in front of Terminal B, exited his car, and immediately opened fire at the officer, the terminal, and vehicles in the vicinity. McManus said that when confronted, the man got out of the car and began shooting at the officer and the terminal. He had a lot of ammunition and was shooting indiscriminately.
Maines returned fire, incapacitating Gomez. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two people were injured during the incident, one by shrapnel and the other while running away from the area. Neither injury was considered serious, and no officers were injured.
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A police officer stopped him and returned fire
On April 15, 2021, a San Antonio Park Police officer named John Maines shot and injured 46-year-old Joe Gomez, who had opened fire at the San Antonio International Airport. Gomez, who had a history of arrests, was an active shooter with a lot of ammunition and a big handgun. He drove up to Terminal B, going the wrong way, and was confronted by Officer Maines, who was working overtime. Gomez got out of his car and immediately opened fire at the officer and the terminal, with shots fired indiscriminately. Maines returned fire and incapacitated Gomez, who then shot and killed himself.
Officer Maines's quick actions saved lives and prevented a potential mass shooting. Two people were injured during the incident—one by shrapnel and another by the flood of people attempting to flee the area. Neither injury was considered serious, and no officers were hurt. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus credited Maines with halting "the start of an active shooter situation," stating that it was “nothing short of a miracle" that nobody was hurt.
Maines, an 11-year veteran with the police force, was placed on administrative duty following the incident. The investigation was ongoing, with authorities examining the shooter's vehicle and history. The airport was evacuated, and TSA checkpoints were locked down as a precaution. The lockdown was later lifted, and airport operations returned to normal.
The incident at the San Antonio International Airport was not an isolated event. Earlier on the same day, a shooter believed to be Gomez opened fire from a highway overpass near the city's Stone Oak neighborhood. Fortunately, no one was injured in that incident. The shooter's motivations remain unclear, but he had a history of mental health issues and substance abuse.
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Two people were injured in the incident
On April 15, 2021, two people were injured during an active shooter incident at San Antonio International Airport. The shooter, 46-year-old Joe Gomez, drove his vehicle into the airport terminal going the wrong way and was confronted by a park police officer, John Maines, outside Terminal B. Gomez immediately got out of his car and opened fire at the officer and the terminal. Officer Maines returned fire, incapacitating Gomez, who then shot and killed himself.
Gomez was found to have a lot of ammunition and was shooting indiscriminately with a .<45-caliber handgun. Two people were injured in the incident. One person was injured by shrapnel during the shooting, while the other person was injured while running away from the area during the gunfire. Neither injury was considered serious, and no officers were injured.
The quick actions of Officer Maines were credited with saving lives and preventing a potential mass shooting. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said, "The officer who stopped this saved a lot of lives. We were very lucky today to not have a lot of people injured or killed because of this event."
The airport was evacuated, and a temporary lockdown was put in place during the investigation. Several 911 calls were made during the shooting, and witnesses described a chaotic scene as people ran past TSA checkpoints yelling "Shooter!" TSA agents guided some people to a secure area in the lower level of the airport.
Gomez was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and the investigation was handled by police as a local investigation. Officer Maines was placed on administrative duty, and the police department released surveillance video of the incident.
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Frequently asked questions
The San Antonio airport shooter was 46-year-old Joe Gomez, a veteran with a history of arrests.
Two people were injured during the incident, one by shrapnel and another by the flood of people attempting to flee the area. Neither injury was considered serious.
Yes, the shooter was shot by San Antonio Park Police officer John Maines and later died in the hospital.
No, as per the reports, there was only one shooter, and he acted alone.
Yes, officer John Maines was placed on administrative duty while the investigation was ongoing.
