SAN ANTONIO- New details Saturday evening about a crime spree that police said led to an armed suspect who shot a man at the Leapin Lizard Pub in downtown San Antonio. It was one of three places police said the suspect attempted to rob overnight including the St. Anthony Hotel and Pico de Gallo restaurant.
The victim who was shot is the bar owner. His friends said he walked in on the suspected robber in an upstairs office and that's when he was shot.
“He was shot in the neck, yes he was shot in the neck and he was transported to SAMMC (San Antonio Military Medical Center) and he had to undergo surgery,” explained Paul Meyers, the victim’s friend.
The Leapin Lizard Pub was open for business Saturday night and the owner's friends were stopping by to show their support for bar owner, James Montes.
Police said Montes was shot by Johnny Reyes when he was attempting to rob the place.
Meyers said, “Somebody had gone into the manager's office and ransacked the office and during that James had went and saw that the door was compromised”.
The bar was packed, but nobody noticed what was going on in the upstairs office.
“The noise in the bar was very loud so people didn't hear the gun shot, which left him to call 911 on his own,” said Meyers.
By the time people realized what had happened, police said the suspect had moved on to the Saint Anthony a few blocks away but no money was taken.
Then, investigators said they followed his trail to the Pico de Gallo restaurant where the suspect was shot by an armed guard as he attempted to rob the place.
The victim James Montes had surgery Saturday morning for his injuries and is listed in stable condition. The suspect was taken to University Hospital in stable condition and has been charged with three counts of aggravated robbery.
