San Marcos Police Officer Shoots Suspect Armed With Knives During Foot Pursuit

* (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) *
San Marcos, Texas — On April 11, 2024, at approximately 9:35 p.m., 22-year-old Malachi Williams had been waiting outside of a Snax Max convenience store on Hopkins and followed two men who had left the store as they walked home in the dark. The men reported that Williams followed very closely behind them and that his behavior made them uncomfortable. After they had been followed for a couple of blocks, they confronted Williams and he produced two large knives, one in each hand, and threatened them. They immediately called police to report what had happened. San Marcos Police officers responded and initiated an investigation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. After speaking with the two men, officers began searching the area for Williams.

At approximately 10:35 p.m., Williams returned to the Snax Max store and went into a restroom at the back of the store. Officer Alcides "Alex" Ventura arrived less than one minute later and waited near the front door until Williams came out. Officer Ventura had interviewed the victims of the earlier incident and was aware that Williams may have been armed with multiple knives. At that point, the officer asked Williams to step outside. During the encounter, Williams ignored the officer’s repeated commands to turn around and put his hands behind his back. After exiting the store, Williams continued ignoring the officer’s commands and, instead, turned and ran. He was pursued by multiple officers. The officer attempted to deploy his taser twice while running and both attempts missed.

During the pursuit, the officer noticed that Williams was running with the knives in his hands. After running to the northwest along Hopkins, Williams cut through a parking lot and headed directly toward the H-E-B, which was open at the time. After they entered the parking lot of the grocery store, officer Ventura shot Williams, striking him twice. Despite attempts at life saving measures, he did not survive. The Texas Rangers conducted the investigation into the shooting with the assistance of the San Marcos Police Department. The Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office presented the results of the investigation to the Grand Jury. After hearing the evidence, the Grand Jury determined that the officer’s actions were justified under Texas law. No indictment was issued in the matter.