Suspect in Shooting Death of San Antonio Detective Says He Wants to Apologize
The San Antonio police chief said the detective was targeted for his "uniform."
— -- A man suspected of fatally shooting a San Antonio, Texas, police detective said he wished to apologize to the slain officer's family.
A SWAT team arrested 31-year-old San Antonio resident Otis Tyrone McKane around 4:30 p.m. local time on Monday, said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. He was arrested without incident on Interstate 10, where he was a passenger in a car driven by an adult female, McManus said. A 2-year-old was also in the car at the time of McKane's arrest. No one was injured during the arrest.
Investigators believe that McKane was the person police saw on surveillance video following the shooting. No charges were announced against McKane, but McManus said that he believes McKane is the person "responsible for the cold and calculated murder" of San Antonio Det. Benjamin Marconi.
McKane told police that he was upset after losing a custody battle and "lashed out at somebody who didn't deserve it."
"I've been through several custody battles, and I was upset at the situation I was in, and I lashed out at someone who didn't deserve it," McKane said, according to the Associated Press.
He said he wished to apologize to the family of the slain officer.
On late Sunday afternoon, Marconi, 50, was killed after a gunman pulled up behind his squad car while he was writing a ticket, McManus said. The suspect stepped out of his vehicle and shot Marconi in the head before driving off, the police chief said.
A massive manhunt was underway in the San Antonio area after Marconi's death. McManus said earlier on Monday the "uniform was the target."
San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor said residents could "breathe a little easier" now that a suspect in Marconi's death has been apprehended.
McManus said San Antonio police officers will continue to be vigilant because although the suspect was "taken into custody," the arrest "does not negate the fact that there are still people targeting police officers."
Marconi was a 20-year veteran of the force. "At this time, we would appreciate privacy to mourn the loss of a wonderful father, brother, grandfather, friend, and last but not least, a Peace Officer," the Marconi family said in a statement. "Thank you to the San Antonio community and nation as a whole for your support."
It was not immediately clear whether McKane had obtained an attorney.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.