‘We want him to pay for what he did’: Family calling for justice after a father and son were killed in shooting outside south-side bar

Police say there was a man detained after the shooting, but the family says he is claiming self-defense. They say the victims were not armed.

SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio family is mourning the loss of a father and son who were fatally shot while celebrating a birthday at a south-side bar, saying they want justice after the man questioned in the case was not charged, while claiming self-defense.

The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. July 20 outside the Pecan Grove Bar on Roosevelt Avenue near Interstate 10, according to police.

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Officers said 39-year-old Richard Carrillo Jr., known to family as “Little Richard,” was pronounced dead at the scene. His father, 62-year-old Richard Carrillo Sr., known as “Big Richard,” was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

Family members spoke publicly to KENS 5 for the first time this week, describing what was meant to be a celebration of Carrillo Jr.’s 39th birthday before it turned tragic.

“We’re having a good time. All I remember is I was inside and we heard gunshots,” said Anna Chavez, Carrillo Sr.’s sister.

Chavez said she ran outside after hearing the shots and found both her brother and nephew on the ground.

“I ran out the gate of the bar. Around the corner, I saw my nephew on the ground and my brother on the ground. They had been shot,” she said.

She said the image has remained with her since the shooting.

“My heart’s gonna be broken forever,” Chavez said.

Bridget Carrillo, the wife of Richard Carrillo Sr., said she rushed to the hospital after learning her husband had been shot.

“They told us to come home because the detectives were going to come and talk to us,” she said. “I didn’t find out until almost 4 o’clock in the morning that my husband was gone.”

Police at the scene told KENS 5 they questioned the suspected shooter at a nearby motel following the shooting. The Carrillo family said the man, whom they described as a distant relative of Richard Carrillo Jr., was let go after claiming he acted in self-defense.

The family disputes that account.

“Your intentions were to come and kill my nephew and my brother because you came with a gun to the bar,” Chavez said. “My nephew and my brother didn’t have no weapons, no knives, no guns, no nothing.”

Police have not announced any arrests or filed charges in the case. The investigation remains ongoing.

Relatives described both men as caring, hardworking and always willing to help others. They said the father and son shared a close bond and were rarely apart.

In the days following the shooting, the family organized a plate sale to help cover funeral expenses for Richard Carrillo Sr. and launched a GoFundMe campaign for burial costs.

As they continue to grieve, family members say they are hoping investigators ultimately pursue criminal charges.

“It’s been a tragic loss for us,” Chavez said. “It’s going to be hard to get over this. We just want justice. That’s all we want — for him to pay for what he did to our family.”

Police have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

If you would like to help the family with burial cost, you can find the link to the GoFundMe by clicking here.