By Elaine Ayo
Express-News
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. — Funeral arrangements have been set for the San Antonio police detective killed while trying to arrest a suspect at a Northwest Side apartment complex Friday afternoon.
Visitation for Detective Mario Moreno is 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Porter Loring Mortuary at 1101 McCullough. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Community Bible Church at 2477 N. Loop 1604 East.
Moreno, 37, was gunned down around 1:30 p.m. Friday during a sting at the Villas of St. Moritz in the 7200 block of Lamb Road. Undercover detectives with the Repeat Offender Program and uniformed officers were trying to arrest Jimmy Garcia, 35, on aggravated assault charges.
But when officers tried to approach him as he exited an apartment, Garcia darted toward the parking lot, raised a shotgun and fired once, striking Moreno in the face, a police report said.
As officers were tending to the fallen detective, Garcia briefly retreated inside the apartment before emerging again, gun still raised.
When Garcia did not drop his weapon despite commands from officers, police opened fire and killed him, the report said.
Garcia was wanted in connection with a shooting the day before at his apartment in the 4600 block of Gardendale. In that incident, Tanya Garay, 29, was shot in the leg.
Moreno is the 48th SAPD officer killed in the line of duty and the first officer to be killed by gunfire since 2001.
An 11-year SAPD veteran, Moreno was promoted to ROP detective in June.
Before that, the San Antonio native served in the department’s Central Substation, colleagues said.
Moreno leaves behind his wife, Alena, 8-year-old son Nicholas and 4-year-old daughter Elizabeth.
The police department has established a memorial fund for the fallen detective at the San Antonio City Employees Federal Credit Union. Any donations should be sent to the Detective Moreno Memorial Fund, account No. 745320.
Copyright 2007 Express-News