DA Faces Backlash After Bonded Man Goes on Cop-Shooting Spree

Clear Facts

• A Texas man, Brandon Poulos, with a history of violent behavior, went on a shooting spree against San Antonio police officers while out on bail.
• Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy has called out Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales, questioning the decision to release Poulos on bail.
• Poulos was released on a $35,000 bond just days before the shooting incident, despite a recent arrest for assaulting elderly individuals and driving intoxicated.

A Texas district attorney is facing intense scrutiny after a man, previously released on bond, launched a violent attack on law enforcement officers in San Antonio. Brandon Poulos, who had been arrested days earlier for attacking elderly individuals and driving under the influence, engaged in a shooting spree targeting seven San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers.

This incident has prompted Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy to demand answers from Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales. Roy’s concerns focus on why Poulos, a man with a “lengthy criminal history,” was allowed back on the streets.

“This incident appears to be another example where lax criminal justice policies, including bail reform, have threatened the safety of Bexar County residents and our law enforcement officers,” Roy stated in a letter to Gonzales.

The confrontation began when SAPD officers responded to a suicide-in-progress call at an apartment complex. Poulos, barricaded inside, opened fire, injuring seven officers during a standoff that lasted over six hours.

Poulos was ultimately neutralized by the SAPD’s SWAT team. Authorities suspect that Poulos intentionally called 911 to ambush the police.

“This incident raises serious questions as to why someone with a history of violence was released on bail,” Roy emphasized in his communication with Gonzales.

Poulos’s release on a $35,000 bond came just three days before the shooting spree, despite his recent arrest for alleged assaults on elderly individuals and intoxicated driving. He reportedly violated a “no contact” order shortly after his release.

Joe Gonzales has served as the Bexar County District Attorney since January 2019 and was re-elected in 2022.

Rep. Roy is pressing Gonzales for details on measures his office is taking to prevent violent offenders from exploiting lenient bond policies. He also seeks clarification on why Poulos and similar offenders were not kept in confinement.

The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has yet to respond to requests for comment on this matter.

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