Grand jury won’t indict San Antonio cop in killing of unarmed teen last year

District Attorney Joe Gonzales says his office respects the jury’s decision not to indict Officer Steve Casanova and extends “our sympathy to the Roundtree family.” District Attorney Joe Gonzales says his office respects the jury’s decision not to indict Officer Steve Casanova and extends “our sympathy to the Roundtree family.” Photo: Tom Reel /Staff File Photo Photo: Tom Reel /Staff File Photo Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Grand jury won’t indict San Antonio cop in killing of unarmed teen last year 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

A grand jury has declined to indict a San Antonio policeman in the death of an 18-year-old unarmed bystander who died during an officer-involved shooting at a West Side home in October 2018, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Thursday.

Charles Roundtree Jr., was sitting on a couch with a 24-year-old man around 1 a.m. Oct. 17 in a home in the 200 block of Roberts when San Antonio police arrived to investigate a report of an assault regarding someone who had been punched in the face.

When officers entered the home, the 24-year-old allegedly reached for a gun in his waistband, causing Officer Steve Casanova to fire a shot at the man, according to reports.

The shot went through the man and hit Roundtree as he sat on the couch, investigators said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On ExpressNews.com: Police say fatal officer-involved shooting was accidental

Davante Snowden was indicted by an earlier grand jury on a charge of felon in possession of a handgun as a result of this incident, the DA’s Office said. Snowden is awaiting trial in the 399th Criminal District Court of Bexar County.

“Our office presented all the evidence regarding this officer-involved shooting to the grand jury. Although the decision of the grand jury may not be the decision that was hoped for by the family of Charles Roundtree, Jr., we respect the grand jury’s decision and extend our sympathy to the Roundtree family,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said in the emailed statement.

No further details were available. State law prohibits the disclosure of anything that is presented to a grand jury.

Because of the pending case against Snowden, the DA’s Office declined further comment.

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In May, Roundtree’s family called for the officer’s dismissal and that he be charged with murder.

Roundtree’s biological mother, Patricia Slack, his adoptive mother, Bernice Roundtree, filed a federal lawsuit against the city of San Antonio and Casanova, a five-year veteran of the department. The suit makes claims of wrongful death and excessive force. It also says Casanova never identified himself as a police officer. Snowden and Taylor Singleton, both 24, have also joined in the lawsuit.

Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863