It has been revealed that the illegal immigrant who allegedly shot a police officer in San Antonio, Texas over the weekend had nearly been deported, but was spared and allowed to remain in the United States by a judge after claiming he would face persecution if he was forced to return home to Venezuela. Jorge Chacon-Gutierrez, 25, first entered the country in November 2023.

On Sunday, the Venezuelan national died after being involved in a shootout with police during a domestic violence call.  The officer in question was shot multiple times but survived, and is recovering from her injuries.

A source within the Department of Homeland Security told the New York Post that Chacon-Gutierrez was among a group of nearly 600 people who illegally crossed the border into the US last fall. Upon entering, he was processed by Customs and Border Protection agents for "expedited removal," but pleaded with officials to let him stay. An asylum officer rejected his claim of persecution, at which point he brought the matter before an immigration court. The judge lifted his removal order, and he was allowed to remain in the country, with another court appearance scheduled for 2026.

Less than a year later, he was involved in the incident in question. Around 3 am Sunday, police responded to reports from Chacon-Gutierrez's girlfriend that he had assaulted her. According to the Daily Mail, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said that when they arrived on scene, the Venezuelan national was "laying in bed with a rifle by his side." As officers entered the apartment, "he started shooting."

The officers responded with shots of their own, before fleeing the apartment. A short time later, SWAT officers entered and "saw the suspect was deceased," though it was not clear whether Chacon-Gutierrez had been struck by an officer's bullet or killed himself. Meanwhile, the officer was taken to hospital and underwent surgery hours later.