An armed off-duty police officer working security at a San Antonio movie theater Sunday disarmed a gunman who open fire inside the building, according to reports.
This shooting comes just days after a deadly rampage at a school in Connecticut and sparks memories of the the mass slaying at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.
The alleged gunman, identified as 19-year-old Jesus Manuel Garcia, worked at China Garden, a restaurant right next to the Mayan Palace Theater.
Police say Garcia opened fire at China Garden because of relationship problems with his girlfriend who also worked there; she was not present at the time.
Garcia then continued to fire his weapon across the parking lot and into the theater. Garcia even opened fire on a San Antonio Police Department patrol car.
“Everybody was just coming out of the side of the theater, running out the emergency exits. And everyone was screaming and running,” explained a moviegoer.
Garcia was thankfully stopped before anyone died - by a Sheriff's deputy who was working an off-duty job at the theater. The deputy shot Garcia four times.
"The officer involved, she took the appropriate action to try to keep everyone safe in the movie theater," said Lou Antu, spokesman for the Bexar County Sherriff's Office.
Antu says the gunman never made it into the theater itself, thanks largely to the heroic work of the off duty deputy. "She did what she felt she had to do," Antu said.
"I feel that she saved a lot of lives by taking the action she had to take."
Garcia has since undergone surgery and is in stable condition at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). He faces a LONG time in prison.
He's being charged with aggravated assault for shooting at a police officer and shooting a bystander, who is currently listed in stable condition.
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