SAN ANTONIO – The trial of three San Antonio Police officers in the June 2023 shooting death of Melissa Perez continues Wednesday, with Day 3 expected to feature further cross-examination of Officer Jesus Rojas.
Day 2 included dramatic courtroom moments, including a temporary pause when the defense attempted to question San Antonio Fire Department Capt. Christopher Hudson while playing body camera footage. The court halted proceedings to ensure the jury could review a physical copy of the video during deliberations.
RELATED: Officer testifies on Melissa Perez’s mental health issues during fatal encounter
Hudson testified about the dispatch process and whether calls involving mental health concerns could be prioritized, stating he was unsure how SAPD dispatch handled such situations. The defense also introduced a hammer to question Hudson on whether it could cause serious injury, drawing parallels to Perez allegedly swinging a similar object at officers.
Officer Rojas recounted his encounter with Perez, who had cut alarm wires at her apartment. He described attempting to speak with her about her mental health, noting she ran off and appeared to be experiencing a mental episode. Rojas said Perez had disclosed a schizophrenia diagnosis but was not taking medication, and no mental health units were present at the scene.
Sgt. Alfred Flores and Officer Eleazor Alejandro are charged with murder, while Officer Nathaniel Villalobos faces aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant.