Indian-origin man shot dead by police in San Antonio

New York: Police in San Antonio shot and killed a 42-year-old Indian-origin man after he struck two officers with his vehicle as they tried to arrest him on an aggravated assault charge. Sachin Sahu was declared dead at the scene after he was shot by police officer Tyler Turner on April 21. Sahu was originally from Uttar Pradesh. Sources said he may have been a naturalized US citizen. According to a preliminary investigation, just before 6:30 p.m. on April 21, officers were dispatched to Cheviot Heights in San Antonio for a report of an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the San Antonio Police Department said in a statement to PTI. One was sent home.

Upon arrival, officers found a 51-year-old woman who had been intentionally struck by a vehicle. The suspect Sahu had fled from the place. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. San Antonio police detectives issued a felony arrest warrant for Sahu in that incident. Several hours later, neighbors called the police and informed that Sahu had returned to the original place. Officers arrived and attempted to contact him when he struck two officers with his vehicle. An officer fired his weapon, killing Sahu, who was “pronounced dead at the scene.” One officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment for his injuries and the second officer was treated for injuries at the scene. No one else was injured during the incident. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

Police Chief Bill McManus said Sahu had hit the woman, who was his roommate, with his vehicle. The woman was undergoing several surgeries and her condition was critical. The police had issued an arrest warrant for Sahu and some officers went to his known location on April 21 to see if they could find him and arrest him. “They found him and he jumped in his car. He pulled out of his driveway” where police officers stopped him with their vehicles but he managed to get through them. Sahu hit the officers with his vehicle. “The other officer who was with him fired a shot to stop him and hit him,” McManus said. He said that the police are yet to see the bodycam footage to know further facts.

A report by Kens5.com quoted Sahu’s ex-wife Leah Goldstein as saying that Sahu has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. “He had been suffering from bipolar disorder for the last ten years,” Goldstein said. “He also had symptoms of schizophrenia.” “He couldn’t understand what was wrong with him,” she said in news reports. “He will hear voices. And hallucinate and just hear voices and just get stuck in his mind. Goldstein described Sahu as a great father. “I was a stay-at-home mom for many years,” she said. “He provided for us.”

Stay connected to Janata Se Rishta for news updates.