Early Saturday morning, security personnel stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland's Chapman Training Annex faced gunfire in two separate incidents from unidentified assailants. The initial confrontation unfolded around 2:15 a.m., when guards detected a sedan cruising past the entrance gate, followed by the alarming sound of gunshots and bullets zipping by, as recounted by both police and Air Force representatives. The security team promptly requested reinforcements in anticipation of another assault.
The situation escalated before dawn at approximately 5 a.m., when the same vehicle made a daring stop near the gate at Ray Ellison Boulevard and Medina Base Road, launching another round of gunfire towards the Air Force security forces. Sgt. Washington Moscoso, serving as the spokesperson for the San Antonio Police Department, detailed how the guards retaliated using their standard-issue 9mm handguns, leading to an intense but brief exchange of fire before the sedan hastily retreated from the scene. Remarkably, no injuries were reported from this dangerous encounter.
Investigations conducted in the aftermath revealed shell casings at the location where the attackers' vehicle had paused, yet it remained unclear how many shots were fired during this second ambush. JBSA spokesperson Stefanie Antosh confirmed that multiple shooters were believed to be inside the sedan during these incidents; however, their identities and motives remain shrouded in mystery. The make, model, or color of the vehicle involved has not been disclosed.
In response to these unsettling events, authorities temporarily sealed off access to the annex gate and advised commuters to seek alternative pathways. Normalcy was somewhat restored by late morning with the reopening of the gate around 9:40 a.m., while security measures within JBSA maintained at Force Protection Condition Bravo - indicating no immediate threat was perceived following these attacks.
Get the latest, most crucial news stories on the web – sent straight to your inbox for FREE as soon as they hit! Sign up for WayneDupree.com Email News Alerts in just 30 seconds!
Despite these harrowing events, Stefanie Antosh emphasized that there was never an active threat against Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland itself and operations within Lackland resumed without further disruption. Yet unanswered is whether additional security personnel will be deployed at Lackland's gates or other strategic points across JBSA installations in light of these assaults.
San Antonio Police have since engaged closely with Air Force officials in gathering evidence and are treating these shootings as aggravated assaults with deadly weapons. This incident sheds light on potential vulnerabilities even within highly secured military installations and raises questions about safety measures for service members on domestic bases.
The Chapman Annex, target of Saturday's shootings, is integral to Air Force special warfare training efforts - underscoring its significance within military operations. Named after Air Force Master Sgt. John Chapman, a valorous combat air controller who received posthumous honors for his sacrifice in Afghanistan in 2002; this facility symbolizes both dedication and danger associated with military service—a notion starkly highlighted by recent events.
The situation escalated before dawn at approximately 5 a.m., when the same vehicle made a daring stop near the gate at Ray Ellison Boulevard and Medina Base Road, launching another round of gunfire towards the Air Force security forces. Sgt. Washington Moscoso, serving as the spokesperson for the San Antonio Police Department, detailed how the guards retaliated using their standard-issue 9mm handguns, leading to an intense but brief exchange of fire before the sedan hastily retreated from the scene. Remarkably, no injuries were reported from this dangerous encounter.
Investigations conducted in the aftermath revealed shell casings at the location where the attackers' vehicle had paused, yet it remained unclear how many shots were fired during this second ambush. JBSA spokesperson Stefanie Antosh confirmed that multiple shooters were believed to be inside the sedan during these incidents; however, their identities and motives remain shrouded in mystery. The make, model, or color of the vehicle involved has not been disclosed.
In response to these unsettling events, authorities temporarily sealed off access to the annex gate and advised commuters to seek alternative pathways. Normalcy was somewhat restored by late morning with the reopening of the gate around 9:40 a.m., while security measures within JBSA maintained at Force Protection Condition Bravo - indicating no immediate threat was perceived following these attacks.
Get the latest, most crucial news stories on the web – sent straight to your inbox for FREE as soon as they hit! Sign up for WayneDupree.com Email News Alerts in just 30 seconds!
Despite these harrowing events, Stefanie Antosh emphasized that there was never an active threat against Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland itself and operations within Lackland resumed without further disruption. Yet unanswered is whether additional security personnel will be deployed at Lackland's gates or other strategic points across JBSA installations in light of these assaults.
San Antonio Police have since engaged closely with Air Force officials in gathering evidence and are treating these shootings as aggravated assaults with deadly weapons. This incident sheds light on potential vulnerabilities even within highly secured military installations and raises questions about safety measures for service members on domestic bases.
The Chapman Annex, target of Saturday's shootings, is integral to Air Force special warfare training efforts - underscoring its significance within military operations. Named after Air Force Master Sgt. John Chapman, a valorous combat air controller who received posthumous honors for his sacrifice in Afghanistan in 2002; this facility symbolizes both dedication and danger associated with military service—a notion starkly highlighted by recent events.
