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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Suspect Arrested in San Antonio Policeman’s Murder

A 31-year-old Texan was charged with capital murder late Monday for the ambush killing of Benjamin Marconi, a San Antonio police detective who was shot to death Sunday while writing a traffic ticket inside his police cruiser.

otis-mckaneSAN ANTONIO (CN) – A 31-year-old Texan was charged with capital murder late Monday for the ambush killing of San Antonio police detective Benjamin Marconi, who was shot to death Sunday while writing a traffic ticket inside his police cruiser.

A SWAT team arrested Otis Tyrone McKane without incident on a San Antonio frontage road about 30 hours after the “cold and calculated murder” set off a massive multi-agency manhunt, Police Chief William McManus said.

“We are relieved to have taken him into custody without a further loss of life,” McManus said Monday afternoon.

He said McKane, of San Antonio, had been under police surveillance for a few hours before his arrest and that a woman and a 2-year-old child were in the vehicle with him when he was arrested.

On his way to be booked on the capital murder charge, McKane said he was upset because he had “been through several custody battles.”

“I lashed out at somebody that didn’t deserve it,” McKane said, according to video provided by KSAT 12 News.

Officer Marconi, 50, was shot in the head late Sunday morning as he wrote a ticket in his squad car outside of police headquarters. The suspect parked a vehicle behind Marconi’s police cruiser, walked over and fired two shots into the officer’s car, hitting him once him in the head, then fleeing.

“There are many facets of the case which still need to be investigated,” the police chief said. “This investigation is by no means over.”

If convicted of capital murder McKane could face the death penalty or life in prison without possibility of parole.

McManus credited McKane’s “quick capture” to the joint efforts of undercover detectives, his SWAT unit, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, and U.S. Marshals.

“Relief. A lot of relief. Everyone is relieved, I don’t think anyone slept last night and I think everybody is looking forward to a good night’s sleep,” McManus said.

Police searched McKane’s apartment Monday night, where he lived with his girlfriend.

“This afternoon we can all breathe a little easier knowing the suspect who maliciously killed one of our SAPD officers is in custody,” San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor said.

Taylor said she has received support from mayors across the United States, from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, and from the White House.

Marconi was a 20-year veteran of the San Antonio police force and a father of two.

His family expressed appreciation for the nation’s support and asked for privacy Monday.

“The Marconi family would like to give thanks from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of support, prayers and love we have received. At this time, we would appreciate privacy to mourn the loss of a wonderful father, brother, grandfather, friend 1and last, but not least, a peace officer,” the family said in a statement.

By Monday evening a large memorial in Marconi’s honor had been created outside the city’s public safety headquarters.

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Categories / Criminal

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