San Antonio man fatally shot by DPS hours after being accused of killing his ex

Police on Monday, June 5, 2017, responded to a shooting in progress in the 2100 block of NE Loop 410. Police on Monday, June 5, 2017, responded to a shooting in progress in the 2100 block of NE Loop 410. Photo: Caleb Downs Photo: Caleb Downs Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close San Antonio man fatally shot by DPS hours after being accused of killing his ex 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — The search for a 37-year-old man who allegedly shot a woman in her apartment on the Northeast Side and then fled with their 1-year-old child ended in a neighboring county when the man crashed and was shot dead by Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers.

Adrian Maurice Hardeman wrecked his vehicle at 2:45 p.m. on Alternate U.S. Highway 90 and County Road 364 in Gonzales County, Texas DPS Lt. Jason Reyes said in an email.

"While conducting the crash investigation, Troopers made contact with an armed suspect who was shot by troopers on the scene," Reyes said.

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Almost three hours earlier, April Russell, 35, was found with a gunshot wound at around noon in the 2300 block of Northeast Loop 410, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Paramedics later pronounced her dead at the scene.

SAPD Chief William McManus identified Hardeman as the suspect in her death. He said that he fled with their 1-year-old daughter, who was found safe by police around 1:15 p.m. in the 4900 block of Wycliff Drive in the East Side.

Reyes said DPS troopers learned Hardeman was a suspect in Russell’s death after Hardeman was shot. The Texas Rangers are now investigating the shooting.

Earlier, McManus said Hardeman had been estranged from Russell and was trying to get back into her life, investigators said.

“This morning he knocks on the door and tries to reconcile, tries to get back into her life,” McManus said. “She wants nothing to do with him.”

McManus said investigators believe Hardeman returned to Russell’s apartment a few hours later, broke though a front window and fatally shot her in the back room.

Nancy Lupolt, a resident at the apartment complex where the woman was killed, said she saw Hardeman and Russell fighting in the courtyard around 10:15 a.m.

“He was just calling her every name,” she said. “Nasty names. I don't even want to repeat them because they were so bad.

“He was irate. Just a nasty, nasty person,” she said.

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Another resident said she also heard Hardeman and Russell screaming at each other Monday morning. She said police previously had been called to the apartment complex twice and had to break up Hardeman and the woman on at least one occasion.

McManus was unable to confirm whether police had visited the scene before the shooting.

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Twitter: @calebjdowns