PICTURED: Cop who was shot during traffic stop before returning fire and killing suspects in truck

blog
San Antonio Police Officer Tyler Sauvage was shot in the hand during Friday's shootout. He was treated in the hospital but has since been released.

San Antonio Police Officer Tyler Sauvage was shot in the hand during Friday's shootout. He was treated in the hospital but has since been released. 

The San Antonio police officer who was shot in the hand during a routine traffic stop before returning fire and killing two suspects has been pictured, as officials announced that he has been released from the hospital.  

Officer Tyler Sauvage, a five-year veteran of the force, pulled over a blue pickup truck Friday afternoon and had a 'casual conversation' with the driver, Chief William McManus said after the shooting. 

But the routine traffic stop descended into a gun battle when, a gun was passed from one of the occupants to the front passenger, who opened fire at the cop at point-blank range. 

Sauvage managed to retreat and return fire, killing the passenger - 25-year-old Alex Anthony Garcia - as well as the driver, Sammie Joe Barbosa, 33.

A third occupant, a 22-year-old woman whose name hasn't been released, was graved in the upper torso by a bullet.

San Antonio police didn't say which occupant passed the gun to the Garcia. 

Police originally said it was the driver who pulled the trigger, but later said it was Garcia.

'Through the investigation it was determined that an occupant in the vehicle was told to give the handgun to Alex Anthony Garcia (front passenger) who then fired the gun at Officer (Tyler) Sauvage, striking him,' San Antonio police said in a statement. 

Scroll down for video. 

Alex Anthony Garcia, 25 Sammie Joe Barbosa, 33

Alex Anthony Garcia, 25, (left) and Sammie Joe Barbosa, 33, (right) were killed during a shootout with a San Antonio police officer during a Friday traffic stop. Police said Garcia shot first. 


Kens 5 Privacy Policy

Garcia allegedly fired multiple times, according to police, but the exact number of shots is still unknown. 

One of the bullets struck Sauvage in the hand; another hit his radio. 

'The officer is very, very lucky to be alive at those close range having been shot in the hand and not somewhere else more vital,' Police Chief William McManus said after the shooting on Friday. 

Police wouldn't comment if the female passenger faces any charges.

A witness told KENS 5 she saw the gun battle and called 911, saying 'Your guy just got shot.' 

'There is an active shooting right now. I was concerned for the policeman. He was alone,' she told KENS 5. 

Sauvage, a five-year force veteran, was treated at the hospital but has since been released and is recovering at home. He was placed on administrative leave. 

When asked if Garcia and Barbosa had previous arrests, a San Antonio police spokesperson said, 'We are unable to release criminal histories.' 

Why Garcia opened fire is still unknown at this point. 

Pictured is the one suspect in the car who survived. She was shot during the gun battle in the upper torso. Police didn't release her identity.

Pictured is the one suspect in the car who survived. She was shot during the gun battle in the upper torso. Police didn't release her identity.

Chief William McManus said a routine traffic stop escalated without warning into a gun battle that left a San Antonio police officer injured, two suspects dead and a third suspect in the hospital.

Chief William McManus said a routine traffic stop escalated without warning into a gun battle that left a San Antonio police officer injured, two suspects dead and a third suspect in the hospital. 

Law enforcement are trying to understand why the driver pulled a gun on the San Antonio police officer during a 'casual conversation' as part of a 'routine' traffic stop.

Law enforcement are trying to understand why the driver pulled a gun on the San Antonio police officer during a 'casual conversation' as part of a 'routine' traffic stop.

San Antonio police are baffled by what prompted the shooting.

San Antonio police are baffled by what prompted the shooting.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

The San Antonio Police Department Shooting Team and Internal Affairs are in the midst of separate, but concurrent investigations, per department protocols. 

The case will then be forwarded to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office for an independent review. 

This was San Antonio's second gunfire exchange involving police in two days. 

A day earlier, a gunman with 'mental issues' was shot and killed by police after he drove up to the terminal of San Antonio International Airport and open fired. 

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKGdYWRb2psZ4B%2BkJWhsX57ZnufpXq0tM6tZK2qkZuzqq%2BMrKuoqF2nsrXB0aegp59dm7azsYykoKWkmaO0br%2FUrKeem6SoerW%2B1JyiZ6Ckork%3D